Connie J. Smith is a committed global advocate for reproductive rights and fulfilling the potential of women and girls. She worked professionally for 17 years as a speech-language pathologist. She volunteers and supports reproductive rights and child advocacy organizations locally and internationally. In 2009 Ms. Smith co-founded the Global Neighborhood Fund which provides grassroots grants in Liberia focused on projects contributing to poverty reduction for women and girls including several projects with UNFPA.