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Project Smiles

@project_smiless

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Protecting voting rights, informing communities, and empowering people through advocacy, voter registration, voter education, and service.

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It was an honor to receive an invitation extended by Vice President @kamalaharris and her team after reviewing my resume, my work, and the impact I’ve been building. Moments like this are earned long before they arrive through consistency, credibility, and a commitment to service.

In 2019, I was a 15-year-old watching an exceptionally qualified Black woman step onto the national stage with clarity and conviction. “Kamala Harris for the People” was not just a campaign phrase. It reflected how she had already lived her career. From the courtroom to public office, she made clear who she believed leadership was meant to serve. I believed her then. I believe her still.

Even at that age, I understood the reality of this country. A nation shaped by racial hierarchy, systemic inequality, unequal access to opportunity, and freedoms distributed by design rather than fairness. That understanding did not harden me. It sharpened me. It showed me why representation matters and why leadership rooted in justice is nonnegotiable.

That clarity helped guide my work, including the founding of @project_smiless, and continues to shape my involvement in fellowships, campaigns, and advocacy centered on service and accountability.

Deep gratitude to my mentor, @tk_webster, who assisted me throughout this entire process and made that day possible. Your guidance, belief, and investment continues to open doors and sharpen my purpose.

Vice President Harris, thank you for the conversation, the affirmation, and the reminder of what leadership grounded in service looks like.

God does not call the qualified. He qualifies those He calls.🇺🇸

#kamalaharris
#ProjectSmiles taken in Montgomery, Alabama by @project_smiless

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7 months ago

I had the privilege of catching up with the Honorable @staceyabrams at the GA House Caucus Dinner.

Stacey has been a huge part of my “why.” She is someone who has consistently spoken truth to power, advocated for those whose voices are too often overlooked, and remained a steadfast champion for voting rights and civic engagement.

One thing I’ve learned through this work is that no matter the title, no matter the race, no matter how far you go, you have to stay grounded in your purpose. The work is bigger than any position or title we may hold.

I’m grateful for leaders like Stacey who continue to remind me why this work matters and inspire me to keep showing up, speaking up, and fighting for a democracy where every voice has the opportunity to be heard. taken in Atlanta, Georgia by @project_smiless

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2 days ago

Georgia, we’re 7 days away from the voter registration deadline!

Join me virtually on Monday, October 5th, as I serve as a guest speaker for the Newton County Democratic Committee for an important conversation about voting in Georgia.

I’ll be talking voter registration, Georgia elections, voter access, voter protection, early voting, and what voters need to know to be prepared and make their voices heard this election season. We’ll also get into the voter protection work happening across Georgia and the importance of knowing your rights at the ballot box.

With the registration deadline just 7 days away, there’s no better time to make sure you’re registered, informed, and ready to vote.

Save the date, share this with a Georgia voter, and join us for the conversation!

- Monday, October 5th
- Link will be posted in my bio on Sunday, October 4th. taken in Atlanta, Georgia by @project_smiless

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3 days ago

Reflecting on the 55th Annual Legislative Conference last week. Proud to be a part of the legacy of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and this week reminded me why.

This year’s theme was “Rooted in Legacy, Rising with Purpose,” and it couldn’t have fit better. The work we do stands on the shoulders of people who came way before us and paved this path. Reconnecting with my AlphaPAC members and my CBCF cohort felt like a family reunion, familiar faces who remind me why I started in the first place.

I’m leaving with a renewed sense of purpose, rooted in such a rich legacy and rising to always meet it!

#ALC55 taken in Walter E. Washington Convention Center by @project_smiless

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10 days ago

Link in bio. by @project_smiless

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17 days ago

Before @_averageaustin_ ever spoke a word, he listened. To stories. To concerns. To the everyday problems people carry into a voting booth. Then he turned that listening into action. Into policy. Into a plan!

Austin is sharp and organized, and never afraid to roll up his sleeves and get to work. But what stuck with me was the humility. He never assumed he had the best idea in the room. He asked his team what they thought, and he actually used the answer. We pushed each other, learned from each other, and both walked away better for it.

He also poured into my interns. Took the time to teach, encourage, and invest in them like it actually mattered to him, because it did. That’s the kind of leader you want in the room.

Campaigns end. But what they build, the relationships, the lessons, the trust, doesn’t.

Until this day, I know Austin is still not weary in his well doing, and in due season, he’s going to reap a harvest. So proud of who Austin is, and even more excited for what’s still ahead of him! taken in Montgomery, Alabama by @project_smiless

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21 days ago

Today, Project Smiles proudly celebrates our founder, Bryson D. Powers, on earning his B.A. in English Language Arts with a concentration in Professional Writing from Alabama State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

Before Bryson arrived on the Yard, Project Smiles was already rooted in a commitment to service and community. During his time at Alabama State, that mission grew into something bigger. Bryson saw a need for greater civic engagement among students and expanded Project Smiles to include voter education and voter registration, helping students understand their rights and use their voice.

That work became one part of a college experience defined by leadership, service, advocacy, and impact.

Today, we celebrate the degree, the accolades, and every accomplishment represented in these photos. But more than anything, we celebrate the work behind them, the late nights, the hard conversations, the belief that students deserve a seat at the table.

Congratulations, Bryson. We’re proud of you, proud of your journey, and excited for what comes next.

#ThePowersPower #CollegeGrad #HBCUGrad #Grad2026 by @project_smiless

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23 days ago

You better thank a union member. You better thank a worker, because the people who keep our communities moving, our families supported, and our country working deserve to be recognized. Today, we pause to honor workers across our country and the generations of organized labor who have fought for fair wages, safer workplaces, and stronger communities. by @project_smiless

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24 days ago

Yesterday at the Ossoff HQ, I had the opportunity to meet @gabbygiffords and Senator @senmarkkelly. Giffords, who was shot in the head in 2011 and told she may never walk or talk again, is a true embodiment of resilience and the power of using your voice. Today, she uses that same voice to advocate for safer communities and inspire people across the country.

Senator Kelly, an astronaut, Navy veteran, and champion for gun violence prevention, continues that work alongside her. Grateful for the conversation, the inspiration, and the reminder that the work continues. by @project_smiless

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a month ago

Project Smiles is on the move! We’re so grateful to have partnered with the League of Women Voters and so many grassroots community organizations to make this past weekend a success. From Friday’s New Appeal Kickback, where we created space for connection, community, and conversation, to Saturday’s community teach-in, where we engaged directly with residents around voter education, civic participation, and the power of their voice, the weekend was all about turning connection into action.

Innovation can meet tradition, and tradition can meet impact. We’re proud to continue building with our community, creating spaces for education, engagement, and collective action. This is the work, and Project Smiles is just getting started.

#ThePowersPower taken in Atlanta, Georgia by @project_smiless

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2 months ago

Congratulations to my former boss, Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (@stacey.eplaskett) on winning the Democratic primary for Governor of the United States Virgin Islands and advancing to the general election this November!

Serving in Congresswoman Plaskett’s Washington, D.C., office was one of the most meaningful experiences of my career. She is a remarkable leader, mentor, and public servant who poured so much into me, and I will forever be grateful for her guidance and the incredible team that welcomed, challenged, and invested in me.

I have no doubt the people of the United States Virgin Islands are seeing the same leadership, vision, and heart that so many of us have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand. Wishing you nothing but continued success in November and beyond, Congresswoman. I’m proud to be cheering you on.

@plaskettpotterhq by @project_smiless

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2 months ago

61 years later, and the fight for voting rights is far from over.

Honored to join @leagueofwomenvoters as we commemorated the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and recommitted ourselves to protecting the freedom to vote. taken in Atlanta, Georgia by @project_smiless

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2 months ago