Charles Smith and Associates LLC

I enjoy helping people become their best selves by achieving optimal health and connecting their work and efforts to their purpose and passion. I developed Charles Smith and Associates to channel my talents and experience, and those of my colleagues, toward cultivating human capacity.  I combined my 40 years as a social worker, 35 years as a martial artist, 35 years as a parent, and 50 years as a personal spiritual journey traveler to offer a unique perspective and approach to helping individuals, groups, and organizations.  I believe in the capacity of people to grow, heal, transform themselves, and transform the world around them through harmonious relationships and positive action.

I am the owner and chief instructor of Portland Soo Bahk Do (since 2015), Program Manager at the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation of Oregon, clinical therapist at Black Men and Women in Training Mental Health Group Practice, and instructor at Portland Community College and Tennessee State University. My experience includes over 30 years as a trainer/consultant, supervisor/manager, and direct service provider working with diverse populations in a variety of settings; addictions, child and family support services, culturally specific services, family preservation, juvenile probation, mental health, men’s health, Head Start/early childhood, food systems, and community health. 

 

I have served as the Co-Director of the Black Food Sovereignty Coalition, Program Director at the Black Parent Initiative, Development Consultant and Trainer at the Early Childhood Training Center- Portland State University, Assistant Director at Behavioral Sciences Institute- Homebuilders program, and Families First Supervisor- Lutheran Child and Family Services of Michigan (Intensive family preservation services).  

 

I have a Master of Social Work degree from Michigan State University and Bachelor of Social Work degree from Texas Christian University.  

 

My additional training and certifications include: 

 

• Motivational Interviewing trainer and practitioner- trained by William Miller and Stephen Rollnick (1993)

 

• Master Trainer- Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education (OCCD)

 

• 6th Degree Black Belt and Master Instructor in Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan 

 

• Clinical Social Worker Associate- State of Oregon

 

• Applied Strategic Planning facilitation- Lead by Tim Nolan (2000)

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I am the co-author of the Social Service Competency Based Training (SSCBT) curriculum and coordinate implementation of the program in collaboration with Tennessee State University.  

 

I am a father of three children ages 35, 33, and 23; and the youngest of six children born and raised in Huntington, West Virginia.  I have lived in the Portland OR/Vancouver WA area since 1991.  Personal time is spent working in my yard, supporting my children, cooking, golfing, working in my faith community, and teaching Soo Bahk Do (Korean karate) and Therapeutic Martial Arts.