Terrance Smith
PUBLIC INNOVATION FELLOW
Bloomberg Center for
Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins
The Bloomberg Public Innovation Fellowship offers accomplished public innovation practitioners from the United States and abroad an opportunity to reflect on their experience, develop original research and thought leadership, and actively contribute to public sector knowledge and practice.
Terrance Smith brings over a decade of experience in the public sector to his role as one of the inaugural Bloomberg Public Innovation Fellows at Johns Hopkins University. Previously, Terrance led an innovation team in the City of Mobile, Alabama, that has drawn local praise and national attention for deploying innovative approaches to improving the quality of life for residents. He is the founder of the Office of Strategic Initiatives, which houses the Innovation Team and Datacenter. Earlier in his career, he was responsible for developing, operating and scaling the prototype for Alabama’s first charter school. Bloomberg’s CityLab named Terrace one of “Six Innovators to Watch,” and he has appeared on the cover of the Mobile Bay Magazine’s Forty Under 40 issue. He is a Traegar award winner, which recognizes the nation’s top engaging local government leaders. He was appointed to the Leadership Alabama Commission on Race and Equity and is a member of the USA College of Education and Professional Studies Advisory Council. Additionally, he is a graduate of Leadership Mobile and the Alabama Leadership Initiative.
Terrance is a graduate of the University of South Alabama and, as a native of Mobile, has a deep-rooted connection to Mobile County and its surrounding areas. He continuously pours himself into fostering community growth by mentoring local youth, serving as a board member to several organizations, and building relationships with local, national, and global leaders to help blur the line between officials and the citizenry they serve.
On the BCPI Blog
The Essential Force Needed to Drive Impactful Public Innovation
Innovation Conversation: How Trustworthiness Sparks and Sustains Public Innovation in Barranquilla, Colombia
A Public Sector Innovation First at Johns Hopkins – New Course Shines a Light on Innovation for Baltimore-based Students
Listen & Watch
June 15, 2023
“Building Trust in Public Institutions: A Path to Innovation and Progress”
Creative Bureaucracy Festival
Berlin, Germany
February 16, 2023
Panel Discussion:“Activating Local Democracy”
Elijah E. Cummings Democracy and Freedom Festival Plenary Session
Baltimore, MD
Full Talk Video
October 19, 2023
Panel Discussion: “Trust: How Cities Can Build It, Maintain It, and Repair It”
CityLab 2023 Plenary Session
Washington, DC
Recent Features
Navigating Trust: Paving The Path To Public Innovation
Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation | September 18, 2024
Download the Center’s research brief, “Navigating Trust: Paving the Path to Public Innovation,” to discover Terrance’s insights on the role of trust in public sector innovation.
10 memorable moments from Bloomberg CityLab 2023
Bloomberg Cities Network | November 1, 2023
Highlights and key insights from the 10th Bloomberg CityLab Summit, where mayors, innovators, and leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., to discuss urban challenges and opportunities.
A Focus on Trust and Collaboration at the 2023 Bloomberg CityLab
The Aspen Institute | October 25, 2023
The Aspen Institute’s President and CEO, Dan Porterfield, moderated a thought-provoking session on a subject affecting communities and shaping our ability to make progress: trust in our institutions and each other.
At Forum, Policy Analysts Find a Lot to Like in Lancaster’s Efforts to Build Civic Engagement
One United Lancaster | June 9, 2023
Powering innovation through trust-building takes time, commitment, and a strategic approach to civic engagement.
NBC News TV-15 Mobile | April 5, 2023
High school students in Mobile County are using their voice to create change.
Building Trustworthy Local Government
Bloomberg Cities Network | January 18, 2023
Local leaders know that in an era of misinformation and historic challenges, they have a lot of work to do to build stronger connections with residents.
Public Innovation: 6 Ways Local Governments are Breaking Boundaries
Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation | October 15, 2022
Public innovation’s exponential growth in the last decade has helped bring to life a range of new, effective solutions in government – from the response to COVID-19 to reimagining parks and libraries. How are innovative leaders challenging systems? What does boundary breaking mean for the communities they serve?
Upcoming Opportunities
Visit the Bloomberg Cities Network
The Bloomberg Cities website both spotlights best-in-class efforts in cities and provides access to cutting-edge resources and support for city leaders.
Join the Local Infrastructure Hub Community
The Local Infrastructure Hub helps local leaders navigate and understand the 400+ federal funding opportunities available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.