Lavasha Smith

• Grants Program Director - Open Road Fund
• Pronouns: she/her
• Year Hired: 2021

In my role as Director of the Open Road Fund—a $50 million initiative to redistribute wealth to Black communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota—I work alongside a dynamic team to guide investments that prioritize economic justice, shared power, and community-rooted solutions. I believe in challenging outdated systems and creating new paths that honor how our communities live, work, and support one another.

About Lavasha

Beyond my professional work, I’m grounded by the relationships that shape me: I am a proud mother, daughter, sister, and friend. These roles fuel my commitment to community, care, and transformative change.