Meet Ernyce Smith

Q&A - Getting to know the members of the STS Family  

• Where are you from?

  • I was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee.

• What made you consider joining the STS family?

  • When you expose children to more, you unlock doors that were shut to their future. I was raised by a single mother. My mother utilized her village to help in raising my brother and me. Our village comprises family members, church members, teachers, and counselor programs like Girls Inc. of Memphis. My brother and I had many experiences that we would not have been afforded had we not had so many adults willing to pour into us. I joined STS to pour into young people by providing them with experiences that they would not have received otherwise by becoming a part of their village.

• What does your role within the organization entail?

  • My role in the organization is to I am the Senior Liaison for STS Strive. I am the point person for seniors for all things graduation and post-secondary.

• What was it about STS Enterprise’s mission that drew you to the organization?

  • Exposure-Memphis is a diverse city. I have often grown weary of hearing of so many leaving Memphis under the impression that nothing is happening here. I believe that STS Strive exposes students to the diverse culture of Memphis, which is vital to continuing to build and make our city prosper.

• What impact do you hope to have on the organization within the year?

  • This year, I hope to strengthen my role in assisting students explore post-secondary opportunities. I would like to do this by setting up opportunities for students to participate in job shadowing.

• How do you spend your time when you are not empowering the next generation?

  • When I am not empowering the next generation, I cook delicious foods, spend time with family, and pursue my doctorate in education leadership with a concentration in coaching and consulting.

• What is your superpower or something you feel like you do better than anyone else?

  • I have a strong ability to break down complex ideas and explain it in a way that others can understand.

• What does a perfect day look like for you?

  • A perfect day for me would consist of some form of self-care and pampering, such as hair appointments, nail appointments, or massages. A delicious meal, and then wrapping it up with some retail therapy!

• What excites you most about working with the students?

  • Watching their growth, being able to compare who they are at the beginning to who they transform into.

• Who has had the biggest influence on your leadership style?

  • My brother. He never tires. Years ago, my pastor said “God maintains whatever He ordains. You know you are in your God-given assignment because God will always maintain the strength you need to complete your task.”. Watching how my brother is never tired and is always ready to give his best in all of his leadership roles is an example of alignment for me. Once I learned that my purpose was to pour into the lives of youth, I had to learn to be intentional in remaining in that purpose. Which is what I believe is what sustains him and allows him to grow. Everything that he is involved in aligns to the same mission.