Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
July 08, 2025
Michael D. Smith Leads Eckerd Connects Towards Systemic Change
TLDR
- Michael D. Smith's leadership at Eckerd Connects offers a strategic advantage in scaling workforce development and youth services through proven systems and deep community trust.
- Eckerd Connects under Michael D. Smith shifts from direct services to systemic solutions by analyzing data, elevating best practices, and building equitable partnerships.
- Michael D. Smith's vision for Eckerd Connects aims to transform systems and expand opportunities, ensuring every child, family, and community can thrive.
- From a Boys & Girls Club kid to leading Eckerd Connects, Michael D. Smith exemplifies how lived experience shapes impactful leadership and systemic change.
Impact - Why it Matters
Michael D. Smith's leadership at Eckerd Connects represents a pivotal shift towards addressing systemic issues in workforce development, family support, and youth services. His approach, rooted in personal experience and cross-sector collaboration, offers a blueprint for creating lasting societal change. This matters because it highlights the potential for nonprofits to not only serve immediate needs but also solve underlying problems, impacting millions of lives by fostering economic mobility, family stability, and youth connection.
Summary
Michael D. Smith, a nationally respected social impact leader, has been appointed as the President & CEO of Eckerd Connects, one of the country's largest nonprofits focused on workforce development, family support, and youth services. With a rich background that includes leading AmeriCorps and the My Brother’s Keeper initiative, Smith brings decades of experience in transforming systems and scaling opportunities. His vision for Eckerd Connects involves shifting from being a 'server' to a 'solver', focusing on systemic solutions to address root causes of societal challenges. Smith emphasizes the importance of innovation, cross-sector partnerships, and listening to the communities served to drive meaningful change. His personal journey from a Boys & Girls Club kid to a public service leader informs his empathetic and urgent approach to leadership.
In his first 100 days, Smith plans to travel across 21 states to listen to staff, partners, and those served by Eckerd Connects, aiming to understand strengths, challenges, and opportunities. His leadership is set to foster a culture that is both visionary and grounded, with a focus on outcomes that matter to real lives. Smith's story and strategy highlight the power of lived experience in shaping effective leadership and systemic change, offering inspiration and practical advice for young people navigating adversity.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by citybiz. Read the original source here, Michael D. Smith Leads Eckerd Connects Towards Systemic Change
