“They completely changed my life,” Smith explained, “including teaching me about finances and how to carry myself like a man. I could not be happier.”
Each morning, Baltimore City resident Ronald Smith III wakes up at 5:30 am to prepare for his day working as a Project Engineer at a construction job site undertaken by L.F. Jennings, Inc. After concluding his shift at approximately 4 p.m., Smith makes his way home to spend a quiet evening at his West Baltimore residence. He says a prayer and smiles with the realization that his life has taken a dramatic 180-degree turn from four years ago, when he was engaged with the Baltimore City Department of Juvenile Services Evening Report Center (ERC) program and generally felt lost and adrift with a bleak future.
It was during those evening counseling sessions, held for first-time crime offenders during their probationary period, that Todd Scott, Founder and Executive Director of We Rise! noticed that Smith seemed highly engaged with the discussions, always had relevant questions, and maintained close eye contact during one-on-one conversations. Scott seized upon Smith’s positive outlook and enthusiasm to form a powerful bond with the 17-year-old, an alliance that would pay significant benefits for the youngster.
The mission of We Rise! is to create financially literate youth with the grit, tenacity, skills, and education to live successful lives. The non-profit organization integrates mentorship, on-site development and construction project site visits and regular communication to help troubled Baltimore City youth find a path to become positive contributors to society. We Rise! is partially funded by the rehabilitation and resale of Baltimore City homes, with a current focus on the Broadway East neighborhood. Last year, We Rise! engaged nearly 1,500 Baltimore City-area youth through its programs and outreach efforts.
Ronald Smith (left) with Todd Scott at Smith’s high school graduation
Recognizing the potential of Ronald Smith III
Scott first met Smith during weekly ERC programs held at the Woodburn Avenue and York Road site. We Rise! regularly attended those sessions to teach basic business skills, including financial literacy and entrepreneurship, and to stress the importance of accountability, reliability, and honesty. Scott, a former Wall Street bond trader, told stories about his career working on the famed financial district and imparted his secrets to success.
“I feel for these youngsters,” Scott said. “Many are born into untenable situations and receive little guidance, support, or direction. It is no wonder that they find themselves backed into a corner and make bad decisions. But, like a good coach, our job is to guide them onto the correct path, build their confidence, and mold these youngsters into solid citizens. All it takes is a little interest on their part.”
We Rise! experiences include trips to observe active construction projects, tours of recently-developed mixed-use communities, and conversations with local real estate and construction professionals. We Rise! corporate partners often roll out the red carpet for these youngsters, with a recent example being MCB Real Estate, which hosted tours of its recently-redeveloped mixed-use Yard 56, Northwood Commons retail center and The Enolia multifamily community in Baltimore City. Youths were also invited to attend groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting ceremonies and rub elbows with business leaders and real estate professionals. MCB Real Estate has chosen L.F Jennings to serve as the general contracting company for many of its projects including Yard 56 and The Enolia.
“I started giving Ronald subtle critical thinking tests and he always responded with the right answer,” Scott said. “He displayed leadership skills and the passion to better himself. I knew he was ready to take the next step in his journey.”
In 2022, Smith began handling minor construction activities at We Rise! residential projects located in Baltimore City, and the non-profit organization started conversations with his family and school to track progress. Next, Smith entered the group’s Job Readiness Program and, later that year, he graduated from high school. Representatives from We Rise! attended his graduation ceremony.
Last summer, Smith began working on student housing being built at Morgan State University. In the fall, We Rise! arranged a three-month internship for him with L.F. Jennings. The construction contracting company extended the paid apprenticeship for an additional three months and formally offered Smith a full-time job this spring.
“A shining light entered my life”
“A day does not go by without Todd Scott calling and texting me to provide an uplifting scripture passage and to check on my mindset,” Smith said. “It means so much to know that someone of this stature cares about me. This usually starts with a 4:30 a.m. text message and continues throughout the day. Since being introduced to We Rise! my life has taken a complete 180-degree turn, I am working and managing my finances and, more importantly, carrying myself like a man.
“My life was at a low point during the ERC program, but I realized what it could be after listening to presentations from We Rise! and listening to their past success stories. Having a mentor like Mr. Scott means everything. He taught me how to write e-mails, helped me shop for the right clothing in preparation for my job interview and provided guidance with speaking to business professionals. That was completely out of my comfort zone. He is a familiar face that has shown up in my life repeatedly and has been a constant and positive influence in my career. He is always coaching me, which is what I need.
“My advice to other young people in my position is that they can have hope, even when times seem bleak,” Smith said. “Your life can be changed for the positive, but you need to commit yourself to making a difference and accept guidance from those who care about you. I could not be happier with my situation now. I am doing things I never dreamed possible before and feel like I have an extremely positive future. If I can do it, others can do it as well.”
Embarking on a career at LF Jennings
Construction management firm LF Jennings is among many local firms which partner with We Rise! to offer apprenticeship opportunities that help mentees translate their hard work into tangible career achievements. As part of the program, the company hosted We Rise! mentees at several of its job sites to demonstrate how the construction process works.
“Among our goals was to educate young people about possible career paths in construction,” explained Justin Reid, Director of Operations for L.F. Jennings. “This involved showing them the beginning of the tunnel, which included an introduction to the industry, as well as demonstrating what the end of the tunnel looks like when they land a full-time job in the industry. We discussed job site scenarios in real time and emphasized that hard work, enthusiasm, and integrity are prerequisites for the job.”
Reid said that he gathered a few of the mentees, conducted interviews and Ronald Smith particularly stood out.
“Ronald relayed that he was currently working the overnight shift at a distribution facility for a major logistics company and a big part of his job was devising a process which enabled him to efficiently transfer boxes from the conveyor belt to the correct truck,” Reid said. “It was not easy, others were struggling, and this proved that he had critical thinking skills. He also said that he started training some of his fellow workers so they could perform their job better.”
Smith’s current job at L.F. Jennings includes overseeing the work of job site subcontractors. After some basic training, he caught on quickly.
“His work ethic is impeccable and last night he was firing out emails at 8 pm,” Reid said.
“After meeting Todd Scott and learning more about the We Rise Program, we immediately recognized Todd’s profound vision for empowering younger generations,” Reid added. “Just as a revitalized parcel can transform a neighborhood, exposure to positive examples in youth can reshape lives. Todd and the mentors at We Rise provide Baltimore’s youth with opportunities to see their potential and achieve goals they may not have previously envisioned. This approach goes beyond simply advising; it actively engages mentees in realizing their own success.”
We Rise! works with middle and high school students throughout Baltimore City and the State of Maryland and has formed partnerships with the Broadway East Community Association and Park Heights Renaissance, Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School, Morgan State University and The Starbucks Foundation. For additional information visit www.werisecommunity.com.
