About Fred Smith

Fred Smith Sr. is a longtime Athens community leader, public servant, and advocate for education and opportunity. For more than four decades, he has worked to strengthen communities, support families, and expand educational opportunity.

Smith retired in 2013 from the Georgia Department of Labor, where he served as District Director overseeing workforce and employment programs across the Northeast Georgia Region and the Central Savannah River Area. In that role, he managed multi-million-dollar budgets and worked with employers, educators, and community leaders to connect people with jobs and training. He spent more than 30 years in state government. 

He currently serves as Executive Director of the East Athens Development Corporation, where he has developed innovative programs focused on youth economic development, workforce readiness, and housing construction and housing counseling.

Smith has also been a strong voice for educational progress in Athens. He convened the Crisis in Black Education conference, bringing together educators, community leaders, and advocates to address persistent disparities and explore solutions for improving opportunities for students.

A graduate of Paine College and the University of Georgia, Smith believes strong schools are essential to strong communities and is committed to ensuring every student in Clarke County has the opportunity to succeed.

  • Fred Smith has spent more than four decades strengthening the Athens community through service, leadership, and a deep commitment to students. His work has created meaningful opportunities for young people and families and has earned recognition both locally and nationally.

    • Member, Gaines School Local School Governance Team

    • Member, Athens-Clarke County School District Local Governance Advisory Council

    • Helped secure funding for student agriculture projects at Gaines School and Clarke Middle School

    • Classroom volunteer, Howard B. Stroud Elementary School (2014)

    • Co-founder, Creative Visions Foundation, providing entrepreneurial and educational youth enrichment for more than thirteen years

    • Co-founder, Athens Area Black History Quiz Bowl (2013)

    • Developer of the Youth Economic Development (YED) Program

    • Organizer of a virtual summer math camp during COVID-19

    • Co-founder, Inner East Athens Youth Tennis Program

    • Founding member, Athens Tutorial Program

    • Served as a Scoutmaster

    • President, Athens branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History

    • Former President, Community Advisory Council for WUGA, the public radio station at the University of Georgia

    • Human Relations Council Rev. David H. Nunnally Sr. Founder’s Award

    • University of Georgia President’s Fulfilling the Dream Award

    • Economic Justice Coalition Dr. Ray McNair Lifetime Achievement Award

    • Association for the Study of African American Life and History Special National Award

    • Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement Outstanding Community Leadership Award

    • Clarke County NAACP Ralph Mark Gilbert Award

    • Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Community Service Award

    • Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Community Service Award

    • Northeast Georgia Business Council Henry Morse Community Leadership Award

    • Georgia State Conference NAACP President’s Award

    • Athens Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Outstanding Youth Leadership Award

    • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Zeta Beta Chapter Citizen of the Year Award

    • Athens Area Annual Emancipation Proclamation Observance Rev. A.R. Killian Lifetime Achievement Award

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