Dr. LaShunda Leslie-Smith’s life is a powerful testimony of faith, resilience, and purpose. She became a mother at the age of 14, a moment that could have defined her by limitation. Instead, it became a catalyst for her determination to build a different future. By 24, she had founded her first nonprofit, Successful Pathways, to support pregnant and parenting teens. By 34, she was serving as a CEO, demonstrating through her own life that an unlikely beginning does not determine how far God can take you.

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Dr. Leslie-Smith became the first in her family to graduate from college, earn a master’s degree, and ultimately complete a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California. She achieved these milestones while raising her children alongside her husband, Moses, whose partnership and support have been an important part of her journey.

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Today, Dr. Leslie-Smith serves as Executive Director of Connected Communities in Rochester, New York, where she leads a resident-centered approach to neighborhood revitalization in the Beechwood and EMMA neighborhoods. Under her leadership, Connected Communities has grown from a $200,000 organization with one employee to an organization with 13 staff and, together with its development subsidiary, Connected Communities Special Projects, a consolidated annual budget of approximately $4.3 million.

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Her leadership has helped advance more than $115 million in neighborhood investment and development, including the $29 million Beechwood Family Apartments, the acquisition and redevelopment of neighborhood properties, the Neighborhood Hub, the Connect Lab, and initiatives focused on housing stability, education, community wellness, and economic empowerment. She is also leading innovative wealth-building efforts, including the Wealth Demonstration Project and work to establish a Community Investment Trust designed to create pathways for residents to build wealth through community ownership.

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Public service is a natural extension of Dr. Leslie-Smith’s community-rooted leadership. In 2025, she was elected as an At-Large member of the Rochester City Council and began her four-year term in January 2026. She brings to public service the same neighborhood-first approach that has shaped her career, with a focus on strengthening neighborhoods, public safety, economic opportunity, youth development, and building a more prosperous future for Rochester residents.

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Faith has always been a cornerstone of her life and leadership. As an Elder at Glory House International, Dr. Leslie-Smith has mentored, counseled, taught, and walked alongside individuals, families, and married couples within the church and throughout the broader Rochester community. Out of that calling, she founded the EPIC Women’s Conference in 2018. EPIC grew into a powerful gathering that served thousands of women through dynamic teaching, authentic connection, and spiritual growth.

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Dr. Leslie-Smith is a highly sought-after speaker, facilitator, and thought leader whose leadership and service have been recognized throughout the Rochester community and beyond. Her recent honors include the 2026 National Trends and Services Community Award from the Rochester (NY) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, the 2026 Member of Distinction Award from the Council of Agency Executives, and recognition by Teen Empowerment as a 2026 Changemaker in Action. These honors build upon a distinguished record of recognition that includes induction into the Rochester Business Journal’s Circle of Excellence and recognition as an ATHENA Award finalist, reflecting her longstanding commitment to nonprofit leadership, community transformation, and public service.

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Dr. LaShunda Leslie-Smith lives on the west side of Rochester with her husband, Moses, and is the proud mother of two adult children, Branden and Myanna. From becoming a mother at 14 to becoming a nonprofit executive, community developer, minister, and elected official, her story reflects what is possible when faith, perseverance, and purpose meet opportunity. Her life’s work continues to be centered on helping people and communities recognize their own power, build pathways to opportunity, and transform the places they call home.