COWC Walking the Talk
In a world where gender equality remains an ongoing struggle, it is promising to witness the rise of women who break barriers and shatter glass ceilings. Ali Smith embodies the spirit of empowerment and social justice and we are thrilled to announce her as COWC’s new Board President. This blog explores Ali’s extraordinary story, highlighting her dedication to fighting for low-wage and immigrant workers and the impact she is prepared to make in her new role.
Ali was born and raised in Stark County, to a family supported and empowered by union steelwork. She worked in food service, retail, as a nanny, and as a home child care provider while raising her two sons. Her COWC journey began in 2016 as a volunteer driven by a deep-rooted passion for worker justice. Since then, Ali has played an essential role in shaping our mission and vision. She has developed social media strategy, chaired our Governance and Development Committee, worked on immigrant rights campaigns, joined our Board in 2019, helped our coalition get a wage theft ordinance passed in Columbus in 2020, written and won grants for the organization, and helped with the hiring and development of staff. Her dedication to the cause of empowering others earned her recognition and respect among her colleagues.
In 2022 Ali’s experience at the worker center led her to join Policy Matters Ohio’s Ohio staff as the Worker Center Network Liaison and now Operations Specialist. We are very proud of her upcoming paper on the child care crisis and how improving conditions and pay for child care workers must be central to solutions.
As Ali assumes the role of president at the COWC, the organization is primed to reach new heights. Ali’s appointment is a testament to her exceptional leadership and strategic skills as well as her ability to inspire and make change happen. With her at the wheel, the center can expect a rekindled focus on empowering marginalized communities, amplifying their voices, and addressing systemic injustices. Ali’s vision, tied with her resolute commitment, promises to take the center to unprecedented levels of success.
We are proud of Ali’s journey from a volunteer organizer to the president of the Central Ohio Worker Center’s Board. She has earned it through her integrity, resilient commitment to social justice, her advocacy for low-wage and immigrant workers, and her exceptional strategic and leadership skills. Our incredible outgoing President Sarah Ingles, our new President Ali Smith, our board members Connie Hammond, Jessica Vernon-Coleman, Jamie Shumaker, and Hannah Halbert, our staff Claudia Cortez and Isbel Alvarado, as well as our partner organizations Justice for Migrant Women, Proyecto Mariposa, Mamas Latinas, Dominican Learning Center, Center for Public Health Innovation, ONE ID Columbus, all serve as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of women in leadership positions, and we are so proud to have these women as a beacon of empowerment. We Can Do It! Sí Se Puede!
Go Ali! DALE Ali!