Monicqwa Wright-Smith Builds Mentoring Empire for Atlanta Girls

With more than a decade in the classroom, Wright-Smith observed a persistent pattern: teen girls often sought a secure environment to discuss their challenges and receive guidance. However, she noted, school systems frequently lacked the capacity to adequately serve these needs, with guidance counselors often managing overwhelming caseloads. Long before Legacy of Light was formally established, Wright-Smith made herself available, offering her lunch breaks and after-school hours to listen to students, recognizing a profound need for mentorship that extended beyond academics.

This dedication to guiding young people has been a lifelong passion for Wright-Smith, ignited when she took her first job as a summer camp counselor at the age of 14. The decision to formally launch Legacy of Light Mentoring became undeniable with the birth of her daughter in 2023. Reflecting on that pivotal moment, Wright-Smith shared that “The lane just opened up” for her to dedicate herself fully to creating this vital support system for the next generation.

Wright-Smith tailors her sessions to meet individual needs, sometimes adopting a “more stern” approach to ensure project completion, while at other times focusing on personal development, such as building confidence for a school play. She deeply values creating an environment where girls feel comfortable being themselves. “Creating that safe space where they can just let their hair down and just be is so important to me,” she stated. She holds a firm belief that while girls “have it in them,” they sometimes “just need that little extra push” to unlock their full potential.

The significance of Legacy of Light Mentoring lies in its direct response to the escalating pressures on adolescent girls. Wright-Smith points out that today's girls “have to worry about cyberbullying and social media,” challenges her own generation did not face to the same extent. Her work addresses the critical gap left by overburdened educational systems, offering personalized guidance and a supportive community to help girls develop resilience, self-awareness, and leadership skills.

Looking ahead, Monicqwa Wright-Smith envisions a major expansion for the program: the creation of the Legacy of Light Dream Center in Atlanta. This proposed center would serve as a dedicated physical space where girls could engage in various activities after school and on weekends, allowing them to explore their interests before facing the financial commitments of higher education. Her vision for the Dream Center includes specialized rooms for financial literacy, podcasting, cooking, cosmetology, science, and technology, providing a secure and dynamic environment for exploration.

Wright-Smith is actively pursuing funding for this ambitious project through grants and community support, making a direct appeal for assistance to the broader community. “The City of Atlanta has to get behind this,” she urged, adding, “City of Atlanta, please help me open the Legacy of Light Dream Center.” She articulated the profound need for such a space, saying, “Just having a space for them to explore, where they can feel safe to do that.”

Wright-Smith’s philosophy is centered on meeting girls where they are, rather than attempting to conform them to predefined notions of success. She aims to be holistic in her approach, empowering each girl to become her best self. She acknowledges that her role is to “open doors, to guide, to empower,” and that while she cannot “save everyone,” she can “be ready, patient, and unwavering for those who are ready to receive the light.” This initiative is a testament to her personal experience of needing mentors as a teenager and her commitment to ensuring that the “porch light” of support remains on for the next generation.