Leadership Story

My name is James Smallwood, and I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, by a strong and faithful single mother in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community. Like many, I faced challenges finding my path — working job to job and living paycheck to paycheck after college, searching for purpose and stability. That all changed when I discovered my passion for community advocacy and research. I realized my true calling was helping others improve their quality of life and access opportunities they didn’t know existed. Through my work, I focus on connecting homeowners to federal and state programs that provide full or partial funding for home improvements — often with no upfront costs or fees. The Justice40 Initiative has been especially meaningful to me, as it opens doors for families in underserved communities to receive the support they deserve. My mission is simple: to educate, empower, and uplift communities through awareness, access, and action.