ABOUT REV. DAMON SMITH, M.Div.
Licensed Minister in the State of Illinois.
Ordained Minister in the Progressive National Baptist Convention.
Rev. Damon O. Smith is the Youth Pastor and Associate Minister of Social Justice at Liberty Baptist Church of Chicago, where Rev. Andrew D. Hunt, Jr. is Pastor. Among his responsibilities are: Youth Pastor, Baptist History Lecturer, and Multigenerational Advocacy and Social Justice Initiatives. Rev. Smith is also an Award winner in Homiletics from McCormick Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 2019.
Rev. Smith has many years of experience in inter-governmental affairs, civic engagement, community organizing, developing programs and professional coaching and mentorship.
Known as the "Bow-Tie Baptist", Rev. Smith has taught at the collegiate level for over 15 years in the areas of computer science, economics, public relations and operated mentoring and tutoring programs for minority students, oversaw the production of student events as well as produced concerts, fashion shows and other special events, with artists such as Common, Kanye West, A Tribe Called Quest, Yolanda Adams, Hugh Masekela, Eric Roberson, and Hugh Masekela.
Many local and national elected officials often call upon Rev. Smith to consult on building collaboration among diverse constituencies to achieve a common goal. He achieves this by distilling complex technical, legislative, and procedural concepts into clear, actionable strategies and then teaching and training stakeholders and directly impacted communities on how to collaborate effectively.
Rev. Smith is also a sought-after coach and consultant, preparing non-profit, religious, and corporate executives to develop skills that increase the organization's scope, footprint, reach, membership, and, yes, revenues. He achieves this by applying a methodology that guides clients through an honest assessment process, interprets realistic results, and then creates scalable strategies for implementation.
"It is the client's future, therefore the client must be engaged in the fulfillment of their future", - Rev. Damon Smith.
Among Rev. Smith's awards and memberships are:
2019 - Recipient, Ellen & James Taylor Award in Preaching
2017 – Fellow, Black Theological Leadership Institute, Princeton Theological Seminary
2017 - Recipient, Ellen & James Taylor Award in Preaching
2017 – Recipient, Kenilworth Union Church Urban Ministry Scholarship
2016 – Honoree, Chicago Defender Man Of Excellence
2015 – Recipient, Excellence in Preaching Award, Business & Professional Club
Rev. Smith serves as:
2018 – 2023 Outreach Director, Bud Billiken Day Parade
2016 - (Present) – Chairman, 3rd Ward Pastors & Ministers Alliance
2014 - 2019 Chaplain, Chicago Area Morehouse College Alumni Association
2014 – Present – Publicity & Events Committee Chair, Xi Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
2013-2024 – Outreach Director, Chicago Football Classic
