202-900-6947
Our Mission
At Smart Start Training Academy, our mission to SkillUp community-based organizations and their communities worldwide by tackling unemployment and underemployment. We are dedicated to enhancing the skills of individuals through comprehensive training programs that support all-based organizations. By offering-specific training and career development opportunities, we empower to secure employment and advance in their careers. Together, we strive to foster growth and prosperity in communities across the globe.
Benefits
At Smart Start Training Academy, we are committed to community-based organizations, small businesses, and program participants across nation. We recognize the transformative power of adult education programs in empowering individuals to secure fulfilling careers while bolstering the talent pipeline for businesses of all sizes. By providing essential opportunities for skill development, we contribute to the creation of a qualified workforce that drives economic growth nationwide. Our programs, such as Skill Up DMV, are designed equip you with the skills needed to thrive in today’s evolving job market, you seek a high school equivalency diploma or wish to enhance your English and Math abilities. Together, we are fostering a national environment where everyone has the chance to succeed.
Meet Our Founder
Shakitha Leavy Knight
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Building the Backbone for Scalable Community Impact
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Shakitha Leavy is a strategic operator who equips community-based organizations with the financial systems, compliance capacity, and operational infrastructure they need to sustain funding and scale their impact. With 30 years in government, nonprofit, crew/gang intervention, prevention, suppression support, and workforce development across education, health, and human services, she strengthens organizations from the inside out—designing grant-ready budgets and cost models, establishing internal controls and board-approved policies, building grants management and reporting systems, and aligning data, programs, and finance to meet city, state, federal, and private funder requirements.
A proven partnership builder, Shakitha has led complex cross-sector collaborations and specialized initiatives in community safety, including gang and crew intervention. Her work consistently improves service delivery to underserved populations while making organizations audit-ready, funder-compliant, and operationally resilient. She develops staff and leadership through targeted training, elevating financial fluency, compliance culture, and day-to-day execution—so capacity gains are durable, not temporary.
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Shakitha holds an MPS in Strategic Leadership and a BS in Human Development from the University of Memphis. She is certified in Ethical Leadership (NASBA) and holds both a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Global Justice License. A committed mentor and thought leader, she speaks on ethical leadership, program management, and capacity building, translating complex operational needs into clear action.
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At her core, Shakitha helps mission-driven organizations build the backbone required to grow sound finance, strong compliance, and scalable systems—so communities receive the consistent, high-quality services they deserve.