MEET DR. CHARAY

Dr. Charay Smith is a proven leader who has spent her life lifting up children, families, and entire communities. From Title I classrooms to the nonprofit sector, she’s done the work — not for recognition, but because people deserve someone who shows up.

 

A former teen mom who rose to become a school principal, Dr. Charay knows what it means to fight through obstacles and still deliver results. She has taught, counseled, and led in schools where kids needed more than lessons — they needed hope, stability, and someone who believed in them.

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As a substance-use clinician, she walked with individuals through recovery and into second chances. As a nonprofit executive director, she employed a team of 21 and secured the funding needed to ensure fair wages. She has advocated for families on the Cumberland County Board of Appeals, supported youth through the NAACP Youth Council, and championed workforce opportunity through the Workforce Investment Act.

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Her service runs deep — from early days as a candy striper, to hospice volunteer work, to leading youth leadership camps that gave kids safe spaces and real opportunity. And as a minister, she has opened doors to experiences many families never imagined — including trips to Disney World and first-time travel beyond their hometowns.

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Dr. Charay is running for Congress because she believes every family deserves safety, opportunity, and a voice that truly represents them. She’s lived the challenges — and she’s ready to deliver real solutions.