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Lakenya Smith

Apprentice Organizer

Lakenya Smith is an Apprentice Community Organizer with the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice. Lakenya stepped into this role after working as a community canvasser, where she spent hours conducting outreach in communities across the city to engage in conversations about the need to Shut Down the Rikers Island Jail complex and invest in communities. She greatly enjoys that she can work directly with communities to amplify their voices in her role at Katal. Lakenya is driven by a deep commitment to building people power and creating meaningful change within the communities most impacted by oppressive systems. 

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Before joining the Katal team, Lakenya studied liberal arts at Bloomfield College. She developed a strong foundation in understanding diverse perspectives, cultivating empathy and support for individuals struggling with addiction and mental health issues, providing guidance on resources, and meeting people where they were, especially in harm reduction. After college, Lakenya worked as an HIV Prevention Specialist and Case Manager at Project Street Beat, focusing on meeting people where they were on their journey and providing support. She learned the importance of compassion, resilience, and genuine human connection, traits she carries with her in all the work she does at Katal and in her community.

Outside of work, Lakenya values traveling, spending time with her family, and collecting sneakers, all of which keep her grounded and inspired.