SMILE
Strong Minds Institute for Leadership & Education
Equipping the adults who serve young people — educators, mentors, youth workers, coaches, families, schools, and organizations.
Overview
Young people thrive when the adults around them are equipped
SMILE delivers practical, research-informed learning experiences that help adults build stronger relationships, stronger systems, and stronger outcomes for the young people in their care.
Audiences
Who SMILE Serves
Educators and school teams
Teachers, counselors, deans, and leadership teams seeking practical strategies for engagement, culture, and student support.
Mentors and youth workers
Program staff, coaches, and volunteers who need frameworks for consistent, high-impact mentoring relationships.
Families and caregivers
Parents and caregivers who want tools for communication, structure, and supporting their young person at home.
Nonprofits and community organizations
Organizations building or strengthening youth programming and staff capacity.
Faith and civic groups
Groups serving young people who want shared language and practical skills.
Districts and agencies
Larger systems seeking sustained professional learning and implementation support.
Services
What SMILE Provides
- Professional development workshops
- Webinars and virtual learning series
- Multi-session training cohorts
- Coaching for staff and leaders
- Program design and implementation support
- Speaking engagements and keynotes
- Custom organizational partnerships
Topics
Core Training Topics
- Youth leadership development
- Mentorship structures that last
- Executive functioning
- Emotional intelligence
- Culturally responsive practice
- Engaging Black and Brown boys
- Relationship-centered classrooms
- Family engagement
- Restorative and reflective practice
- Program design and evaluation