2026 SPECIAL SESSION I
ENROLLED
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2150
Commending Myra Goodman Smith.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, June 22, 2026
WHEREAS, over the course of her distinguished tenure as president and chief executive officer of Leadership Metro Richmond from 2010 to 2025, Myra Goodman Smith advanced public service in Richmond and throughout the Commonwealth by contributing to the development of other community leaders and strengthening regional partnerships; and
WHEREAS, a native of Richmond, Myra Smith began to cultivate her passion for community service at a young age as a candy striper at what was then the Medical College of Virginia; as the only Black volunteer at the time, she was assigned to the A.D. Williams Clinic for low-income patients, and her experiences there influenced her commitment to empowering those in greatest need; and
WHEREAS, a graduate of Richmond Public Schools, Myra Smith became one of the Richmond City Council's youngest commissioners during her senior year of high school and continued to serve the city during her college years; she earned a bachelor's degree in urban studies and a master of public administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University; and
WHEREAS, after completing her education, Myra Smith pursued a career in community service and worked as vice president of the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg for more than two decades, leading initiatives in research, planning, grant making, program development, fundraising, governance, and operations; and
WHEREAS, Myra Smith subsequently became president and chief executive officer of Leadership Metro Richmond, where she has prepared hundreds of diverse leaders to better serve and engage with their communities; and
WHEREAS, through Leadership Metro Richmond, Myra Smith fostered strategic partnerships across the region to facilitate meaningful connections, create opportunities for community advancement, and promote social equity; and