Growing up in a small town in west Kentucky, Bryan and his siblings grew up in a close Christian community. Living in a single parent household, Bryan experienced economic, social, and cultural hardships. “I never really paid attention to the fact that my father was missing. We never had time to feel the void,” stated Bryan Smith. New challenges occurred once his family relocated to a city in Georgia. “When we moved, poverty became the backdrop of our lives. Alcoholism, drugs, gangs, and the threat of “lack” competed daily with our family values, faith, and resiliency,” Bryan recalled. Eventually returning to Kentucky, Bryan pursued his degree in Education. He now uses his past experiences to inspire others.