Acting Executive Director
Fran Smith is a community organizer, a nonprofit manager, and a facilitative leader for racial justice. She began her work as a pro school desegregation student organizer in the 1970ss in Boston. Since that time, she has worked in the nonprofit and public sector. Fran interned at the Center for Law and Education while at Hampshire College. After reading Judge Garrity’s brief regarding the Boston school desegregation case, she became a community organizer, realizing advocates were needed to implement Judge Garrity’s 400+ orders to end racial discrimination.
During the 1980s, Fran led community-based youth development projects to help youth identify and navigate racism, as well as gain skills to achieve their aspirations. In the 1990s Fran worked on local and national education reform projects promoting equity, excellence, and parent involvement in urban school districts. More recently, Fran has been a resource development specialist successfully raising funds to support grassroots education and racial justice organizing.
Prior to joining CLE, Fran worked as a development manager within the Boston Public Schools. She was also awarded a Community Fellowship from Tufts University where she obtained her Master of Public Policy.
