Continental Who's Who

Sherell Bender-Smith

Sherell Bender-Smith is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Pinnacle Professional as the Founder of Home of Positive Enlightenment, a non-profit providing Housing Solutions for Homeless Youth.

With a mission to provide stable, safe and appropriate housing with positive role models to homeless youth, Home of Positive Enlightenment serves the New Jersey Youth through compassionate placement and counseling services in support of displaced females. The goals of Home of Positive Enlightenment are to educate the public about youth homelessness, promote advocacy, equip foster parents with the necessary resources, support and house teens, and ensure their brighter future to allow the youth they serve to reach their fullest potential.

As the Vice Principal and Owner, Mrs. Benders-Smith is responsible for the overall operation and administration of the home. She affords those she serves genuine care and works tirelessly to ensure the proper placement and care of at risk youth in her area. Mrs. Benders-Smith has over twenty-two years of experience in education and has served the last fourteen focusing exclusively on the placement of displaced teenage girls.

Beginning her education as a student at Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mrs. Benders-Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in Literature. She then went on to pursue two Master of Arts in Administration & Supervision and Counseling from Montclair State University. A champion of higher education, Mrs. BendersSmith sought out additional training from Seton Hall University, where she earned her EDS. She belongs to and is still active with the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and is charitable towards St. Jude’s and the March of Dimes.

Mrs. Benders-Smith dedicates this recognition to her husband John and her children Veronica and DaQuon. She would also like to recognize her parents, Pamela and Oliver Benders.