Benjamin Smith is founder, executive director, and writer mentor with Southern Word, which has grown over the past thirteen years into one of the largest resources of its kind in the Southeast. He worked for six years in various youth development organizations including the YMCA, Conservations Corps, and Summerbridge. This experience included designing programs, developing lesson plans, and teaching creative writing in various forms. He subsequently worked for six years at Levi Strauss & Co. planning sizable events and managing Dockers® licensed businesses. He is a singer-songwriter who has played in country, jazz, rock and americana bands. He has been on the Tennessee State Arts Commission roster of approved teaching artists. Benjamin graduated from Brown University in 1994 with a degree in English and American Literature.

Session: Exploration of Writer Mentor Role in Classrooms