Jefferson Award Presented to Renée Richard-Smith

Cinnamongirl Founder Made Believers of Skeptics

Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, September 10, 2006

When Renée Richard-Smith gave birth to her third child, Jayla, she was inspired to start a nonprofit organization that would empower young women of color. "I never wanted her to feel that she couldn't do anything she wanted to," said Richard-Smith, who founded Cinnamon Girl Inc. three years later, in October 2003.

The nine-month structured program in East Oakland, which is designed for underserved African American and Latino girls ages 12 to 17, runs concurrently with the school year and provides group enrichment activities and mentoring.

This year, Richard-Smith expects to have as many as 35 girls and 12 mentors participating. One Wednesday a month, CGI meets at the East Oakland Youth Development Center, where the participants discuss academic goals and community outreach and socialize. Weekend events include a swim party and barbecue, a ladies' tea, a holiday giftmaking get-together and financial independence and relationship seminars.

The girls come to the program by referral or on their own and are required to make a one-year commitment, but most choose to stay on. Richard-Smith said the ultimate goal is to have the young women pursue higher education. Their first graduate, Tory Wilson, just left for Clark Atlanta University. CGI awarded her a $1,500 scholarship and laptop computer.

Tom Nolan, executive director of Project Open Hand, who sits on the San Francisco Giants Community Fund board of directors, said that when Richard-Smith applied for a grant he was initially skeptical of yet another organization for bored teenagers, but he was blown away when he went to visit

"The girls were so engaged in the writing workshop they were having," Nolan said, crediting the range of activities Richard-Smith offers the young women, most of whom have witnessed violence in one way or another. "I had the enthusiasm of a convert. We gave her double what she asked for."

For information, call (510) 531-4740, or go to www.cinnamongirl.org.