Kawana Mayes

Kawana Mayes Smith is an esteemed educator within the Dallas Independent School District. What distinguishes her from the rest is the close relationship she has established with the district’s athletic program. As a retired athlete, she has consistently sought professional avenues to fuel her passion for sports. Kawana has a remarkable track record of successful collaborations with community partners and academic leaders who share the common vision of empowering youth.

Together, they have strategized and devised plans for school-wide events, with Kawana playing a pivotal role in developing effective philanthropic strategies and fostering community engagement over the years. Her leadership skills extend to various aspects of the non-profit sector, and her portfolio continues to expand thanks to her drive and valuable experiences. Kawana generously offers her personal time to advise non-profit organizations on various topics, fulfilling her commitment as both a community member and a professional. She priorities seamless operations for non-profit events and fruitful fundraisers, benefiting the local community through the initiation of numerous educational and recreational programs yielded positive results. Kawana’s extensive experience lies in creating and implementing successful community-based and educational outreach programs.

During her journey to cultivate her brand-building approach, Kawana has held various positions. One exceptional experience was serving alongside Michael Crabtree’s Crab 5 Foundation as an Event and Volunteer Coordinator. Additionally, she worked closely with the WNBA Dallas Wings and partnered with Nike to lead the Nike Game Growers youth program, successfully executing the Game Growers Sports Program at John Lewis Social Justice Academy at Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle School. She also collaborated with Dr. Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, as a Media Relations Coordinator.

Kawana is the conceiver of R.E.S.E.T, a program specially designed for female students who aspire to pursue careers in the sports industry. Her ultimate goal is to elevate their influential capacity, establish inspiring role models, and challenge the gender stereotypes that undermine equality between men and women in sports.

Alongside her impactful work in education and sports, Kawana is the founder of Venture Next, LLC, a dynamic innovative philanthropy boutique. Venture Next specializes in partnering with non-profit organizations, schools, professional sports teams, and athletic foundations to create transformative programs and initiatives. Their goal is to leverage the power of sports to drive social change, education, and empowerment, making a positive impact on communities.

Kawana holds a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management from the University of Houston-Downtown, a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas, and an Executive Certificate in Sports Philanthropy from George Washington University. She actively contributes as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.