Laura Shmishkiss
Project Partner
Laura Shmishkiss is an equity consultant, coach and trainer who has committed her life to working for social justice, equity, and liberation. She brings 25 years of experience as an educator, trainer, activist and organizational leader in both nonprofit organizations and schools.
Most recently, Laura served as Executive Director at Center for Racial Justice in Education, a nonprofit organization that trains educators to dismantle racism wherever children learn. Laura’s past roles include Director at Bronx Community High School, Senior Director of Programs at Coro New York Leadership Center, and founder of Coro’s “Exploring Leadership Program,” a youth activism program that partnered with New York City teens to organize for change in public education. Laura has provided training, coaching and consulting to hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals across the United States.
Laura is an active white anti-racist trainer and organizer, who believes that all of our struggles for liberation are bound together, and necessitate the dismantling of white supremacy. As an herbalist in training, she believes that social justice work is inseparable from healing work which is inseparable from restoring an interdependent relationship with the land.
Laura earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Colby College, and a teaching certification from San Francisco State University. She was featured in The Limited’s “Leading Looks Like” campaign which highlighted the unique ways in which women redefine and inspire leadership. She also serves on the Board of Directors at Camp Kinderland, a 90- year-old summer camp committed to social and racial justice.
Laura lives in Brooklyn, New York, and loves to spend time gardening in her community, and nurtures her own vitality through dancing, running and practicing yoga.