Pursuing Associate in Arts degree in Web Development at SMCC
My experience at SMCC was the bedrock for everything I achieved at The Leadership Consortium. Looking back, SMCC didn't just overload me with facts, it equipped me with the advocacy skills, support system, and professionalism needed to transition from the classroom to conversations that directly impact my community.
SMCC student Ahrianna Smith recently had the honor of being selected to join the delegation at The Leadership Consortium in Washington D.C. during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation events. She proudly represented South Mountain Community College and the Maricopa County Community College District, as she was the only delegate from an Arizona community college.
Ahrianna is currently pursuing her Associate in Arts degree in Web Development at SMCC and works in Career Services. She has a strong interest in technology policy and civic engagement, and through the recommendation of her mentor, SMCC Student Life Manager Lucero Curiel, she learned about The Leadership Consortium.
“The Leadership Consortium sponsors Black students in Arizona to attend the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, creating a platform for us to engage directly with elected officials and company directors on critical issues facing the Black community, specifically academics, sustainability, and policy making,” said Ahrianna.
From there, Ahrianna conducted further research on the program and secured an interview with Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington which landed her a sponsored delegate position.
The trip to D.C. proved to be a transformative experience for Ahrianna, as she was able to build powerful new connections with the people she met along the way.
“It provided a unique platform for connecting with students in my community who share a passion for sustainability, public policy, and civic engagement. Representatives from companies like AON, Amex, and ASU presented their expectations while engaging in vital dialogue with students about our needs,” said Ahrianna.
She also had the opportunity to speak with elected officials to champion for the causes that have a great influence on her role as a student and those of her peers.
“I was able to advocate for key community concerns, specifically high-paying internships, support to offset the absence of HSI and MSI grants, and strategies for maintaining enrollment and graduation rates across low-income and communities of color,” said Ahrianna.
Perhaps the most influential part of her time in D.C. was when she toured the National Museum of African American History and Culture, as it served not only as a moment of reflection but a profound reminder of the history of her community.
“For many in my family, the opportunity to visit a site of such historical magnitude has not yet been possible, making the chance to experience this vital part of my history and its unvarnished truth deeply moving, especially amid ongoing national efforts to challenge or revise its narrative,” said Ahrianna.
While recalling her journey and the process it took to get there, Ahrianna credits her mentors and peers at SMCC for constantly pushing her to have the confidence to be a part of these significant conversations and for making her voice heard.
“My experience at SMCC was the bedrock for everything I achieved at The Leadership Consortium," said Ahrianna. "Looking back, SMCC didn't just overload me with facts, it equipped me with the advocacy skills, support system, and professionalism needed to transition from the classroom to conversations that directly impact my community.”
Ahrianna’s experiences in D.C. left her with the core insights to keep the momentum going with the issues that mean the most to her and her community.
“What I learned in D.C is that for people of color, we don't have the privilege of believing voting is 'just politics'," she said. "Our vote is a necessary act to secure the livelihood and protect the rights our ancestors sacrificed everything to achieve. This also reinforced a vital lesson: community must be our highest priority. As students, we need to actively cultivate positivity and growth in each other to keep this momentum going. My most profound realization is that our fates are inextricably linked: the freedom of one is the freedom of all."
