Karry Smith is the Executive Director of the United Mentoring Program (UMP), based in Lansing, Michigan. A volunteer youth athletics coach and youth mentor for over 30 years, Karry walked away from an established career in IT project management in 2022 to immerse himself in his passion for helping youth by launching the non-profit UMP to facilitate the development of a successful in-school mentoring program. UMP is currently partnering with the Lansing School District and the Ingham County Juvenile Probation Department to connect with at-risk youth in the community. Karry strongly believes that in-school mentoring is the most effective and consistent way to interact with students daily. Karry believes that in-school mentoring is a conduit through which UMP can facilitate an ongoing and long-term relationship between successful and dedicated mentors in the community and students in our local school systems.