Barbara Furlow-Smiles

Barbara Furlow-Smiles is an author, public speaker, and Diversity Executive. She studied International Relations at Spelman College, received her Masters in Public Administration from Baruch College, studied abroad at University of Capetown, South Africa, and volunteered abroad in Costa Rica. Barbara began documenting her travels at an early age during her first family vacation to Hawaii, which sparked her passion of immersing with people and places as a way to embrace cultural understanding. When Imani Smiles in France was an idea she and her husband, Ernest Smiles, had after visiting over 18+ countries with Imani and seeing the development of her independence, curiosity, and compassion. Barbara currently lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter.