WASHINGTON, D.C. – Urban Alliance, a national youth development nonprofit, today announced the addition of two new members to its national board of directors: (1) Zed Smith, Chief Operating Officer of The Cordish Companies, and (2) Kevin Greer, Partner, New Profit.
“At a time when COVID-19 has laid bare the economic and racial disparities in our country, Black and Brown youth need more people in their corner,” said Eshauna Smith, CEO of Urban Alliance. “Zed and Kevin are dedicated to helping the next generation realize a brighter, more equitable future and we are excited to work more closely with them to accomplish this goal.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Zed and Kevin to our national board of directors,” said Mary Menell Zients, Board Chair of Urban Alliance. “Both are deeply committed to ensuring brighter futures for the communities in which they live and work, and will be steadfast champions for our students in this new capacity.”
Zed Smith joins the national board after serving on the Urban Alliance Baltimore Regional Advisory Board for XX years. Since 2010, The Cordish Companies has hosted an Urban Alliance high school intern in Baltimore, whom Smith helps to mentor.
As Chief Operating Officer, Smith oversees the Company’s operating properties portfolio, helping to transform communities across the country through the economic and cultural impact of real estate. Prior to joining Cordish in 2002, Smith was the founder and President of Baltimore-based real estate firm Urban Asset Management, and began his real estate career with The Rouse Company. Smith is a graduate of Morgan State University and also serves on the boards of The Inner Harbor Project, The Maryland Food Bank, and The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore.
“As a 10-year member of the Urban Alliance Baltimore Advisory Board, I look forward to contributing to Urban Alliance at the national level,” said Zed Smith. “My commitment to Urban Alliance began with a desire to be instrumental in preparing students in urban communities to take advantage of the opportunities available to them. Urban Alliance has been the agent to successfully bridge the gap for students willing to work towards achieving success.”
Kevin Greer joins the Urban Alliance board on the heels of a recently-announced 4-year, $1 million grant from New Profit to support Urban Alliance’s workforce development programming, particularly its flagship High School Internship Program, which seeks to level the playing field for youth of color through paid internships, job skills training, and mentoring.
As Partner at New Profit, Greer co-founded Learn to Earn, the organization’s investment fund focused on college access/persistence, postsecondary education, and workforce development. Today he oversees Learn to Earn’s fundraising, finance, and talent operations. Prior to joining New Profit in 2009, Greer worked in the research division of CEB (now Gartner). Greer is a graduate of Wake Forest University and holds a dual master’s degree in business and public policy from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
“New Profit has long admired the work of Urban Alliance and I couldn’t be more excited to finally have the chance to work more closely with Eshauna, the senior team, and the Board, to accelerate growth and deepen impact,” said Greer. “Given its deep commitment to equity and its position at the intersection of the education and workforce sectors, Urban Alliance is poised to play a critical role in advancing economic opportunity for thousands of Americans in the coming years, at a moment in time when our country is in dire need of innovative programs that help Americans prepare for the future world of work.”
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