Kayla Smith is the Campaign and Community Organizer for Women on the Rise. She is an Atlanta native who was introduced to Georgia’s justice system at a young age through the incarceration of a parent. As she got older, she herself fell into the hands of mass incarceration serving 3 short terms in jail. These experiences exposed the deep injustices within the system and how it disproportionately impacts Black communities.

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Once Kayla realized that her voice has power, she knew she had to use it to fight for change. Since her teenage years, she has been speaking out, standing up for others, and organizing for social and policy reform. Her goal is to make a meaningful impact, not just in the world, but in the lives of the people she meets.

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In 2022, she graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. While in college, she faced several racist encounters with law enforcement, students, and community members. These experiences deepened her commitment to being an agent of change in her community. In 2020, she founded a grassroots organization called A.B.L.E. (Anti-Brutality Legislation Entity), which is dedicated to ending police brutality.

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Kayla knows she does her best work on the ground, whether she is out in the streets protesting or meeting directly with government officials to push for change. Her lived experiences continue to fuel her passion and guide her purpose. She loves to speak life into others and in her free time she loves cooking and trying new recipes. Kayla brings both lived and learned experience to this work and is excited to continue making strides toward a better future with Women on the Rise.