WHERE HOPE BEGINS
Building a Stronger Community
Our Mission
Empowering youth and adults through transformative mentorship that heals, uplifts, and guides lifelong growth.
OUR VISION
A world where every youth and adult is supported by meaningful mentorship—unlocking healing, confidence, and purpose-driven growth across generations and communities.
Get Involved
Donate
Invest in a future where every learner has access to mentorship that heals, uplifts, and unlocks potential. Your gift makes this vision possible.
Become a Volunteer
Whether through a small donation or the gift of your time, your support brings lasting, positive change to the lives of those we serve.
Spread the Word
Share the power of mentorship—your voice can ignite growth, healing, and opportunity across your community.
The Founder/Executive Director
Ms. Hazel Smith, a Jamaican native, was a successful entrepreneur in the Atlanta area, building a legacy of service through her ownership of various retail businesses.
In 2000, Ms. Smith retired from retail and placed her clothing inventory into storage, but her passion for helping others soon inspired a new path. In 2001, she founded Miriam’s Sanctuary, Inc., offering food, clothing, furniture, and educational programs that empowered youth and adults in the Stone Mountain and Morrow areas. For many families, it became more than a resource—it was a place of hope and belonging.
In 2018, the mission grew into Miriam’s Lighthouse Center, Inc., symbolizing stability and guidance. Yet the pandemic brought unexpected hardships, forcing programs to stop. Not long after, Ms. Smith endured the heartbreaking loss of her beloved husband of 35 years, Dudley White.
Despite these challenges, her determination never wavered. Now, at 87, she is revitalizing Miriam’s Lighthouse Center, Inc. as an online mentoring program, continuing her lifelong mission to uplift youth and adults through healing, guidance, and lifelong learning.