Kim’s Story

“Because I know her struggle, I pour into her strength.”

My name is Kimbelyn Campbell-Smith, and I am the founder of The Campbell House. This work, the mentoring, the safe spaces, the healing, it isn’t just something I do. It is the very heart of who I am, and it was born out of both pain and love.

Growing Up in Newark

I was born in Newark, New Jersey, and raised in New York. Life did not come easy to me. I became a teen mom, and with that came challenges that could have broken me. I know what it feels like to be overlooked, unsupported, and to wonder if you’ll ever find a way forward. But instead of breaking me, those experiences gave me resilience. They gave me compassion. They gave me purpose.

I knew early on that I didn’t want other young women to feel like they had to walk that same hard road alone. I wanted to be the person I once needed—the mentor, the safe place, the advocate.

A Life of Service

While building a career in the medical field as a Certified Surgical Technician, and later training to become a mortician, I was also building something else—a life of service. For more than 25 years, I have been a foster mom, opening my heart and home to children in need of safety, love, and stability.

Some of those children came for a night, some for years, but all of them left with a piece of my heart. Being a foster mom taught me one of the most important lessons I carry into The Campbell House: one caring adult can change the entire direction of a child’s life.

The Women Who Shaped Me

My calling is deeply tied to two women who changed me forever.

The first was my grandmother, Margaret Campbell. She was the heartbeat of our family—the safe place I didn’t always know I needed, but always had. Everything about her was unconditional love, grace, and strength. She poured herself into her children and grandchildren, teaching us how to love deeply and hold family close. Her legacy is the foundation on which The Campbell House is built.

The second was my little sister by love, Kashidah Cox. Kashidah was the only girl among her siblings, and she faced challenges in life with grace and light. I stepped in as her big sister, offering support and love, but the truth is, she gave just as much back to me. When her teenage years were cut short, the loss shattered me. But even in that pain, she planted a promise in me—that her life would not be forgotten. The Campbell House carries her spirit forward, making sure girls like her know they are loved, supported, and worthy of opportunity.

Margaret and Kashidah remain the heartbeat of this mission. Every door we open, every program we launch, carries their names and their legacies.

Recognition and Purpose

In 2024, I was honored to receive the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for over 20 years of mentorship, trauma advocacy, and community service. But while the award means a great deal, my greatest reward will never be in titles or recognition.

My greatest reward is in the everyday victories—the girl who walks across a graduation stage when no one thought she could, the letter I get years later from a young woman who says, “Because of you, I found my strength.” Those are the moments that remind me why I do this work.

Why The Campbell House Exists

The Campbell House is not just an organization. It is my life’s calling. It is the promise I made to myself as a teen mom, the love my grandmother poured into me, and the legacy my sister left behind.

Here, young women will always find a safe place to grow, to heal, and to thrive. They will find mentors who believe in them, opportunities that open doors, and a community that reminds them they are never alone.

Because I know her struggle, I will always pour into her strength. That is my promise. That is my purpose. That is The Campbell House.

👉 If you’d like to learn more about our programs or support our mission, please visit our Programs Page or Donate Here.