The Ariana Project is a non-profit organization based in the Southside of Chicago, committed to empowering underserved youth through education. Founded with a vision to bridge the gap in educational opportunities, we offer funding for tutoring programs tailored to meet the unique needs of each child.
Our mission goes beyond academic support - we are dedicated to nurturing the whole child. We believe in the transformative power of music and its potential to inspire, uplift, and create change.
The Ariana Project is more than a non-profit organization; it's a movement. We are creating a future where all children, regardless of their circumstances, have the chance to succeed and make their mark on the world. Join us as we strive to make this vision a reality.
Alicia Michelle Smith is the founder of The Ariana Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children succeed academically through personalized, one-on-one tutoring. With more than two decades of teaching experience, Alicia brings a wealth of knowledge, compassion, and determination to her work, driven by a lifelong commitment to education and a deeply personal mission to support children and families.
A proud Chicago native, Alicia began her academic journey at Daley College before earning her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Loyola University Chicago. She later went on to complete a graduate degree in English Literature at Governors State University. Her professional career in education began at Harold Washington College, where she taught college success classes, and soon expanded to teaching composition at Olive-Harvey College and Daley College. Over the years, she has guided thousands of students—particularly those placed in developmental and entry-level English courses—through the challenges of academic writing. For Alicia, the classroom became a place where fear could be transformed into confidence, and where hesitant writers could learn to believe in their voices.
