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ARIEL TAYLOR SMITH

CO-FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

Ariel has a background in policy making and community organizing. Her regard for impactful policy design paired with a deep belief that organized communities can shift power dynamics and demand change is why she organizes.  

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Ariel graduated from American University. She started her career in Washington, DC advocating for criminal justice reform. She worked for a public interest group calling for reforms to mandatory minimums and sentencing guidelines. When she realized that the policy making process was disconnected from the people it is suppose to serve, she quit her job in DC and became a teacher at North High School in Denver. She taught for 5 years and during that time, gained a clear understanding of inequities that exist within our education system. With that in mind, Ariel moved out of the classroom and sought out a career where she could combine policy making, community organizing and advocating for great schools in every neighborhood. 

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