1. News Release CONTACT:
Andrew Scott, Communications Manager
October 20, 2011 (202) 656-1031
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Andrew@Mobilize.org
Millennial Non-Profit CEO Recognized for Outstanding Leadership
Washington, D.C. – Mobilize.org is excited to announce that CEO Maya Enista Smith is a recipient
of this year’s Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman 2011 EXCEL Award for non-profit leadership
in Washington, D.C.
“I’m so honored to have been nominated by my amazing, talented staff and to receive such
a prestigious award,” Smith said. “This recognition is more importantly reflected in my
incredible team’s commitment to excellence and that of the Mobilize.org board of directors.”
As a recipient, Smith will receive a $5,000 professional development account to use in her role as
CEO. Mobilize.org will also receive a $2,000 grant for staff leadership development training which will
have an impact across the organization’s programs to develop awardees, fellows and other leaders in
its network.
Smith is a veteran in the public service sector, beginning her non-profit career nine years ago. She has
been active in public service since she was an undergraduate at Rutgers University, focusing mainly
on voter empowerment and youth civic engagement. Smith joined the Mobilize.org team in July 2005
as Chief Operating Officer.
In addition to her work with Mobilize.org, Smith serves on the Advisory Board for CIRCLE, the working
group for the Civic Health Index of the National Conference on Citizenship, and the Board of Directors
for BoardSource.
EXCEL Awardees are selected based on leadership excellence in innovation, motivation,
inclusiveness or diversity, community building, and ethical integrity. The competition is open to any
chief executive of a Washington-area non-profit organization with an annual budget of up to $10
million.
Other recipients for this year’s award include Wendy Gradison of PRS, Inc., and George Jones of
Bread for the City.
About Mobilize.org
Mobilize.org empowers and invests in Millennials to create and implement solutions to
social problems. Utilizing technology and social networking to connect Millennials on and offline,
Mobilize.org convenes Millennials from around the country to discuss issues impacting the Millennial
Generation and to develop sustainable solutions to address them.
Mobilize.org believes that in order to create long-term, sustainable and community based solutions
to the challenges facing our generation, Millennials (young adults born between the years 1976
and 1996) must authentically engage their peers in identifying problems, proposing solutions, and
most importantly, must work together to implement these solutions on their campuses and in
their communities.
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