Urban Planner

TABARIS D. SMITH

Phone: 803-***-**** Email: *************@*****.***

Received: 1 /2017– 12/2018 - Alabama A&M University- MURP Urban and Regional Planning

Received: 5 /2018 – 8/2018 – University of Michigan – Environmental Fellows Program

Received: 5 /2016 - South Carolina State University - BS of Business Economics

Received: 5 /2011 - Orangeburg Wilkinson High School

FELLOW/Program Manager - Emerald Cities Collaborative- Washington, DC -September 2019 - Present

Provide support in strategic planning and program development

Working with ECC’s president and senior staff to develop and implement ECC’s recently development economic development plan, including:

•Assisting in refining and implementing ECC’s economic inclusion programs.

•Identifying market opportunities for developing and implementing economic inclusion programs (business and workforce development) in clean energy and infrastructure projects.

•Assisting in establishing national partnerships with existing development organizations that will help expand ECC’s economic inclusion objectives.

•Assisting in developing new initiatives/programs/products and services that can be implemented and marketed.

•Assisting with local and national fund development.

Management of Existing Cities

•Serving as a primary point of contact for cities in the area of workforce, business and economic development strategies.

•Providing support in the development and managing the recruitment, orientation, and deployment of subject matter experts (SMEs)/consultants in local markets in the field of economic development.

•Strengthening and building the organizational capacity of the multi-stakeholder coalitions in each city to function as local high road intermediaries responsible for advancing values-based, community driven clean energy economies within their city/region.

•Supporting ECC’s strategic communication goals, including conference attendance, presentations, blogging, by innovating our operations and processes.

MWDBE Program

•Helping clients and local teams develop local procurement and responsible contracting standards also with IRS, federal, and state regulations.

•Refine/Standardize/Expand ECC’s E-Contractor Academy training, coaching and support program.

Workforce Development

•Working with local workforce partners to develop curricula and align programs targeted to industry sectors.

Monitoring and Compliance

•Identifying monitoring and compliance needs, capacities which includes client relationship management, proposals and grant/contract management, and financial and legal compliance.

•Developing local capacity to offer robust monitoring and data services.

•Working with on-line data vendors to facilitate ECC’s monitoring and compliance work.

•Providing local sites with hands-on technical assistance and coaching to structure and maximize the impact of projects, as needed.

URBAN LEADER FELLOW – The Housing Fund – Nashville, TN 2019– June 2019– August 2019

●Managed relationships with customers and vendors to build the brand of The Housing Fund and The Community Land Trust

●Championed and managed new projects of The Housing Fund and The Community Land Trust to create stronger, diverse partnerships.

●Build the organizational of The Housing Fund with Senior Leadership through targeted outreach in communities and strong project planning.

●Liaised with partners to solve issues, communicate needs and create synergy.

●Analyzed and report on partner initiatives, forecast for strategic changes and report on key metrics.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT – Center of Urban and Rural Research – HUNTSVILLE, AL– Spring 2017–Spring 2019

●Socio-economic and food insecurity assessments in underserved communities, coupled with the an USDA project

●Food outlet, food insecurity, and accessibility analysis in Huntsville Alabama Metro Area (MSA) Census Tract

●Families across Alabama struggle to afford necessities; follows closely on their employment status and wages—and the most basic necessity is food. According to FRAC, Alabama has the 2nd highest food hardship rate in the nation (25.2% of the population). Unique to Huntsville MSA. Researchers also focus on transportation accessibility and public health concentrations in the built environment

●Our aim is to achieve food efficiency and improved food options on a community scale that will in turn have longitudinal effects on food insecurity

●Through the socio-economic variables, accessibility, food outlets, public health, food production, community development implications, barriers, benefits, and average distant travel (ADT) are measured

●Our research group makes both behavioral and infrastructure-based recommendations to help improve Food insecurity and quality of life of Huntsville MSA employees and employers

ENVIRONMENTAL/TRANSPORTATION FELLOW - Transportation for Massachusetts – Greater Boston Area- June 2018- August 2018

●Organized a multimedia project titled, “Voices of Transportation,” which will document the perspectives on transportation and the environment of residents across Massachusetts, explaining the need for access to clean transportation, and the challenges encountered by residents who want sustainable transportation choice

●Forged stronger connections – included between traditional environmentalists and environmental justice advocates– that are critical to the success of Massachusetts’ sign-on to the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) and the upcoming Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) for Transportation

●Leveraged the breadth and structure of T4MA by working with members and partners in the Boston region and across the state, to learn about environmental justice, social equity, transportation planning, climate and other subject areas

OUT- OF- STATE FIELD ORGANIZER Democratic National Committee – North Carolina/South Carolina – Fall 2016

●Through petitions and other organizational methods of outreach, identified community members in the seven largest counties in South Carolina, who were motivated by issues of empowerment and political reform to recruit as volunteers in 2016 election cycle.

●Mobilized a predetermined number of new volunteers every week through phone, email, and in-person outreach

●Planned out-of-state events and actions to North Carolina in which their volunteers participated

●Managed a database of out-of-state volunteers that traveled with the party from 7 counties in South Carolina to North Carolina

●Developed and worked with the best, most dedicated volunteers, teaching them organizing skills so that they could more effectively lead their fellow volunteers to new levels of success. These leaders learned how to recruit volunteers, train people to canvas neighborhoods properly, and call over 100,000 house phones

●Kept consistent records about the supporters identified, leaders they developed, the actions planned and executed, and information that could be useful for future organizing efforts

●Captured in online NVO database, updated regularly. Implemented other social media, tools, and resources as needed

TEACHER ASSISTANT/MENTOR – Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 – Orangeburg, SC– Fall 2015 – Fall 2016

●Collaborated with assigned District Dropout Prevention Director to modify and customize lessons and activities for students

●Tutored students individually and in small groups

●Mentored and motivated at-risk students ages 14-20

●Assisted teachers in maintaining an environment conducive to learning

●Hosted 2 workshops about post education, life skills, and professional development

HUMAN RESOURCE ASSISTANT – South Carolina State University – SC STATE– Fall 2015 – Spring 2016

●Assisted in the talent acquisition process by interacting with applicants through scheduling interviews, working interview teams and search committees, on-boarding new hires and other related employment functions.

●Administered pre-employment assessments and conducted employment verification, supported e-verify, and background checks

●Audited and maintained confidential personnel files

●Verified I-9 documentation and maintained books

●Submitted the online investigation requests and assisted with new employee background checks

●Updated HR spreadsheet with employee change requests and processed paperwork

●Assisted HR Team with various research projects and/or special projects

●Performed other duties as assigned by head employee manager and other HR professionals

DISTRICT OUTREACH DIRECTOR – SC House District 95 – Columbia, SC – April 2014 – Feb 2016

●Organized and scheduled district meetings for Rep. Jerry Govan

●Trained and supervised one Staff Assistant and four interns, with all office matters

●Hosted and Planned multiple events for Rep. Govan in District 95

●Screened active cases and acted as a liaison with constituents to ensure that their community development issues were handled in a responsive manner

ALUMNI AMBASSADOR – College Summit of South Carolina Orangeburg, SC – Summer 2012 & 2013

●Planned and promoted a strong business image in the concept of social capital, to recruit school districts to College and to facilitate the growth of existing customers

●Worked under the Organization’s School Partnership Manager and assisted in the education policy management and program improvements throughout the servicing areas of the state

●Assisted the Executive Director on day-to-day tasks; including, local corporate meetings and business agreements

RESEARCH INTERN – Savannah River Site Field Station – Aiken, SC – Summer 2012

●Government Security Clearance: L

●Managed database of socio-economic and public health variables in the local area of Aiken, SC and around the site of the Savannah River. Earned three credits in Environmental Health

●Worked in Field Station Hires under the supervision of professional researchers executing water samples and watershed surveys on the site of Savannah River and local area

2019 The Urban Leaders Fellowship is a summer fellowship for early- to mid-career professionals who are already leaders in their own right and are looking to accelerate their leadership through a seven-week fellowship with a focus on policy and practice. In nine premier cities across the country, fellows work in partnership with other ambitious, mission-driven individuals, organizations, and elected officials with the aim of empowering fellows to bring about real and lasting change in the community in which they work. I will be completing a 7-week fellowship in Nashville, Tennessee.

2018 The University of Michigan, School for Environment and Sustainability, Environmental Fellow Program. Competitive selected into the third cohort of the Environmental Fellows Program (EFP). The EFP is a national program that seeks to diversify the environmental field, with a focus on environmental and conservation philanthropic sector, by supporting the career aspirations of graduate students. I was supported by the Barr Foundation to complete a 12-week fellowship with Transportation for Massachusetts.

2017-18 The Alabama A&M University Urban Planning Association President : My duties of being president including preside at all meetings; to serve as ex-officio chairperson of all committees; to call special meetings of the Urban Planning Association at the discretion or upon petition from three (3) or more members of the student body at large; and see that all officers fulfill their duties. The president has the authority to appoint ad hoc committees and other necessary representatives for various committees with 2/3 approval of the Urban Planning Association. The president will also serve as student liaison between the Urban Planning Association and the American Planning Association Council of Planning Student Organizations.

2016 Committee to Re-Elect Rep. Jerry Govan, Campaign Manager HD 95 :My responsibilities included planning/organizing a winning campaign, and overseeing all aspects of the campaign to Re-Elect Rep. Jerry Govan. Also, some of my responsibilities was drafting and implementing a campaign plan and budget, overseeing fundraising and spending, hiring and managing a staff and volunteers, and managing a candidate's priorities and schedule. With successful planning, the candidate was able to win by a 50% margin.

2014 1 Vision 1 Carolina Campaign, Rep. Jerry Govan for South Carolina Superintendent of Education, State Organizing Director: My responsibilities included develop and drive strategies that build state organizing efforts with an emphasis on staff and volunteer recruitment and management; Work with state teams to foster county-specific strategies. Create in-person and digital trainings that support in-state organizing with an emphasis on the early voting counties; Conduct regular site visits to oversee implementation and improvement of in-state work and serve on the Campaign Senior Staff.

2010 Committee to Re-Elect Rep. Jerry Govan, Volunteer Manager HD 95 : My responsibilities were to recruited volunteers through community outreach and free advertising opportunities. To interviewed applicants and trained new volunteers; And to maintain a volunteer database and kept track of individual volunteer activities.

●Planning Diversity Graduate Student Association, Program Coordinator 2017 - 2018

●Alabama A&M University’s Planning Accreditation Board, Board Member 2017-18

●Alabama A&M University’s Urban Planning Association Member 2017-18, President 2017-2018

●The Sierra Club: South Carolina 2015 - Present

●American Planning Association 2017-Present

●South Carolina State University Environmental Sustainability Ambassador, 2013-15

●Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated 2013 – Present, Historian 2013-14 and Alumni Relations Manager 14-15

●South Carolina State University Panhellenic Council 2013 – 15’

●South Carolina State University, Student Government Association Executive Board 2012 – 15’

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