Tyrell Smith, born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, is a community-rooted social entrepreneur and changemaker. A graduate of Trenton High School and former heavy equipment operator for the NJ Department of Transportation, Tyrell transitioned into nonprofit leadership and civic innovation with a purpose: to create self-sustaining communities built on food justice, economic empowerment, and collective healing.

Tyrell is currently pursuing his studies in Business Management at Mercer County Community College while also earning credentials through Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy—where he has completed the Fundraising Management Certificate and is enrolled in the Nonprofit Executive Leadership program.

He serves as Treasurer for the Smith Family Foundation of New Jersey and is the Co-Founder and Board Chair of the Trenton South Ward Neighborhood Association. Tyrell sits on several boards, including Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton and Mercer County Community College Foundation, and is active in community impact groups such as RWJUH’s Community Impact Alliance. He was named RWJUHH’s 2022 Young Professional of the Year and has participated in prestigious fellowships, including ABFE’s Connecting Leaders Fellowship Program, The Funders Network’s PLACES Fellowship, and NJ SEED’s Participatory Budgeting Fellowship. He also formerly served on the Business Advisory Committee for Berkshire Bank Mid-Atlantic.