Whitney H. Smith founded Girls For A Change in 1999. This organization catalyzes professional women to help increase the capacity of urban girls as innovators, social change agents, and civic leaders. In her role as the chair of the Silicon Valley Girls Coalition she created a collaboration of over 75 community based organizations, legislators, and individuals serving girls in Santa Clara County. As Girls For A Change Board President, Whitney is active in the strategic planning, community outreach, and fund development for the organization.

Professionally, she is the Director of the Santa Clara County Office of Women’s Advocacy (OWA). OWA opened 1989 to promote special programs and activities that support and encourage women and girls in their personal, family, community, and professional lives. OWA identifies current and emerging trends and needs for women and girls, influences the local and state legislative process and creates public awareness about women’s and girl’s issues among other pressing tasks.

Before joining OWA, Whitney spent six years with Girls Scouts of Santa Clara County where she was Program Director, responsible for program and services for 18,000 young women. Whitney began her career as a social change agent at her university’s Women’s Center where she developed and initiated the first Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) student support group and LGBT Faculty Allies group in the Pennsylvania State University system. She is also an artist and photographer. She holds a BS in Art Education from Kutztown Pennsylvania State University.