A typical troublemaker teen in small-town Nebraska, Mike Smith decided to blaze his own trail in life during his senior year of high school. He made a choice to not be ordinary. Since then, Smith, a skater and motivational speaker, has founded and directs two non- profits, “THE BAY” and “Skate for Change,” focused on encouraging and inspiring youth to pursue their dreams and passions. “THE BAY” is one of few non- profit skate parks in the United States, while “Skate for Change” is an organization that empowers young skateboarders to help the homeless in their communities. Smith recently created “The Harbor TV,” which is a free online video resource that facilitates character development in schools through classroom curriculum. “The Harbor TV” is viewed by over 30 million students in the United States. CEO of both of his non- profits and Executive Producer of “The Harbor TV,” Smith also serves as a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics.
Continuing his passion of skating, Smith has skateboarded across the state of Nebraska three years in a row, raising money for his organizations.
He plans to skateboard across the United States this year, starting in New York City and ending in Los Angeles. Smith aims to raise $1 million for charity during his cross- country skate, while filling his self-proclaimed role as “the Forest Gump of skateboarding.” In addition, Smith is a motivational speaker for youth and is currently on a 90-day U.S. tour, which made a stop at Spaulding Auditorium on Jan. 29. Smith’s friend Brent Camalich, creator of the ‘lifestylebrand’“DUDE. be nice,” based in Ventura, CA, introduced Mike Smith. Donning his “DUDE. be nice” tee-shirt and a beanie from “Yea. Nice,” a company that motivates kindness and donates beanies to the homeless for which Mike Smith is an advocate, Smith took the stage to tell his inspirational and emotionally-moving life story.
Smith’s story began in Rapid City, South Dakota, one of the poorest places in the United States. A fourth grader inspired by Tony Hawk, Smith earned and stole enough money to purchase his first skateboard and spent most of his days at the skate-park. A few years down the road, Smith’s family moved to Imperial, Nebraska – Home of Ten Thousand Cattle – where he went to middle and high school. Smith began high school as a 5’1” skater punk with purple hair but miraculously grew ten inches before his sophomore year, propelling him to four- sport varsity-athlete stardom. With everything seemingly going his way, a major twist was thrown into Smith’s life when his father was diagnosed with cancer the summer before Smith’s senior year. “Life smacked me in the face,” Smith said. He quickly realized that life was not all just about football, basketball and being the ‘big-man on campus.’ Changing his life outlook and attitude, Smith rallied his high school around a freshman boy named “Calvin,” who was a mirror image of freshman Smith, ultimately changing his high school’s life perspective and aim.
Smith was beginning to leave a legacy. He continued his Good Samaritan work in college by bringing socks and food to the local homeless.
Smith’s legacy is now evolving into something extraordinary with his direction of his two non-profits, his creation and production of “The Harbor TV” and his cross-state and future cross-country rides for charity. His legacy did not just appear as miracle out of thin air to the once-2.4 GPA troublemaker. Smith chose a path and chose to create something larger than himself.