Kendall Smith is a Policy Intern at Lone Star Justice Alliance. She is pursuing a B.A in Human Dimensions of Organization, with minors in business and social work, at the University of Texas at Austin.
Having recently joined the LSJA team in September 2024, she is motivated to generate change in the juvenile justice system.
Previously, she worked for The Texas Center for Justice and Equity as a Youth Justice Advocate in 2021, where she aimed to challenge punitive school policies that exacerbated premature youth involvement with the justice system. She gained a valuable understanding of the external forces contributing to youth incarceration, and applied this knowledge to communicating with lawmakers, developing testimony, and fostering community engagement.
Following this, she was compelled to serve children and families tangentially impacted by mass incarceration. She has become involved with Project Avary, where she facilitates peer mentorship and leadership development groups for children of incarcerated parents. This role has taught her the importance of community in fostering developmental resilience and serving as a protective barrier against justice involvement.
She is excited to be joining the LSJA team, and aims to achieve equitable outcomes for youth.