For more than two decades, Dwayne Smith built his career in service—first through AmeriCorps, then across nonprofits supporting youth and neurodivergent communities. An artist by training, he spent his early years teaching creative programs and mentoring young people who often needed a steady, patient presence.
Later, at ServiceSource, he became a skills trainer working directly with neurodivergent adults. Somewhere in those years of hands-on support, he found himself drawn to technology. He earned multiple IT certifications and discovered a rare opportunity to merge his two passions: teaching and tech.
Then, in 2022 a friend pointed him toward abilIT, Melwood’s tech and job readiness program, where that combination wasn’t just welcomed, it was crucial. Today, as the program’s tech instructor, Dwayne brings both empathy and expertise to every cohort he leads. His approach is simple: break things down, meet every learner where they are, and make sure no one feels left behind. He reflects the high standard of teaching at abilIT—instructors fully committed to seeing every student succeed.
“Part of teaching is simplifying,” he said. “When you translate tech into everyday terms, people get it.”
His students certainly do. Dwayne lights up when he talks about the woman from Cohort 17 who once insisted, “There’s no way I can do this.” She flooded him with questions, pushed through the uncertainty, and ultimately became one of his strongest students. Another learner confessed he knew nothing about computers only to finish the program at the top of the class and pass his CompTIA certification exam on the first try.
Moments like these fuel Dwayne. They’re why he starts each day grounding students in the fundamentals, giving them both the technical skills and the roadmap for what comes next in their careers.
As abilIT expands nationally, Dwayne sees it as essential. “Tech is like plumbing—everyone needs it. And our guys deserve to be part of that world,” he said.
What surprises people most? He’s also a visual artist, dancer, and resident class comedian. “If people feel relaxed, they can learn,” Dwayne said. “That’s when they truly open up.”
