Paul Smith is the Director of Reconciliation and previously directed the Chicago Violence Reduction Strategy. The Chicago Violence Reduction Strategy seeks to dramatically reduce group and gang violence in the City of Chicago. The Violence Reduction Strategy is a joint effort of the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, the Chicago Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Westside Health Authority, the Safer Foundation, Teamwork Englewood and a variety of community and faith-based partners.
Prior to joining the National Network, Mr. Smith worked as the Public Safety Coordinator for the City of Chattanooga. He was responsible for managing Chattanooga’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy and coordinated with city officials, law enforcement, social service providers and community members to develop and implement the strategy. Mr. Smith was also the Executive Principal of Howard School where he supervised two deputy principals, a program director, four vice-principals, ninety-four teachers, and twenty-six support staff for approximately eleven-hundred students. During Mr. Smith’s tenure, Howard School increased the graduation rate from 46% to 88% and reduced truancy from 83% to 17%.
Mr. Smith holds a M.Ed. in Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University , a MA in Ethnic Studies from Covington Theological Seminary, and a BS in Secondary Education from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
