The measure of a community isn’t found in its ZIP codes or the sterile halls of its institutions. It’s found on the corner of the block, in the shared nod between neighbors, and in the people who show up for one another every single day. I am a proud product of Indianapolis Public Schools. My life was transformed by the resources of this district, the unwavering support of my family, and a tribe of community stakeholders who refused to let me fall through the cracks.
I grew up across the bridge from Haughville, a place of grit and resilience where the rhythms of life were shaped by what the people our community did and did not have.
“… I know firsthand that when we invest in once child, we strengthen an entire community.”
I am running for the IPS District 5 School Board because I know firsthand that when we invest in one child, we strengthen an entire community.
My journey is not just a personal story. It is a testament to what happens when a student is surrounded by a village that refuses to let statistics define a child’s future.
Statistics once told me I wouldn’t live past 25. Those statistics were wrong.
I am proud to be one of the few back-to-back sibling Lilly Endowment Scholars from our neighborhood. My brother, Neiman, was told he wouldn’t survive past the age of 12 because of his disability. This year, he turns 47. Today, I bring more than two decades of experience in education, along with formal degrees and lessons forged in the fires of our Westside streets. I also have the honor of coaching championship teams at the very school where my educational journey began: Riverside School 44.
We are living proof that when a community refuses to let a spreadsheet dictate the value of a human being, the impossible becomes normal.
My experiences in the classroom, in the band hall, and with the people who surrounded me showed me what a well-rounded education can create. As an adult, I have tried to give back to others in the same way so many people gave to me.
One student who immediately comes to mind is Kaylah P. I mentored this brilliant young woman through the Center for Leadership Development, where her family’s deep commitment to serving the community was evident. Watching her earn her master’s degree and now lead programs of her own has been one of the greatest rewards of my career. It is proof that when we provide young people with the right support, the cycle of success continues to multiply.
My mentors never expected anything in return, but they did expect me to give back. That is why I am running for the school board.
We live in a time when conversations about education often get lost in labels, ideologies, and systems. We cannot allow those distractions to pull us away from what matters most: our children.
My commitment isn’t to a particular model or political brand. My commitment is to the students of this district. I want to ensure that every option available to our children is a quality option, supported by the wisdom of families and strengthened by the partnership of our community.
I have learned that changing a child’s life doesn’t always require a bottomless budget. Sometimes it begins with one caring adult who refuses to give up on them, and often with a little humor to keep things in perspective.
In my role as an IHSAA official, I often remind coaches that while I strive to make the right call every time, I may occasionally miss one. I hope our community will extend that same grace as I take on this new journey.
I’m asking for your support not just for a campaign, but for a shared mission to invest in young people by strengthening families and communities.
Together, we can build a future where every child in Indianapolis knows that where they begin does not determine where they can go. Most importantly, where they live should never determine the quality of education they have access to.
Yuri Smith is an IPS graduate, educator, mentor, and candidate for the Indianapolis Public Schools Board of Commissioners, District 5. Follow him on Facebook at Yuri for IPS District 5.
