Jaranye Smith

Jaranye Smith is an undergraduate student at Ball State University studying Legal Studies with minors in Journalism and Social Work. Living in Minneapolis since a child, she has always been passionate about community advocacy, youth empowerment, and creating spaces where every voice is valued. Her experience with Citywide, a Minneapolis Public Schools student leadership initiative, helped shape her commitment to civic engagement and taught her the importance of bringing people together to create meaningful change.

Jaranye is inspired by Our Streets’ mission to build safer, more connected neighborhoods through community-driven action. She believes that the people who live in a neighborhood should have a voice in shaping its future, and she is excited to help residents share their stories and visions for their communities.

When she’s not canvassing or studying, Jaranye enjoys getting lost in a good book, biking around the city, and spending time learning about the issues that impact her community. She is proud to be part of an organization that empowers residents to create the change they want to see in Minneapolis.