Hello,

I'm Lashawn Smith, and I am the proud mother of Aubrey—a brilliant, curious, and determined young girl you may recognize from the award-winning Netflix documentary Daughters. This powerful film shines a light on the bonds between incarcerated fathers and their daughters, highlighting their strength, resilience, and hope.

While the documentary shared just a glimpse of Aubrey’s story, her journey is far from over. As Aubrey continues to deal with the day-to-day struggles and impact of separation from her father, she has to work exceptionally hard to keep her spirits up and her education at the forefront.

What's incredible about Aubrey is that she continues to rise above life’s challenges. Recently, thanks to the generous support of SEE US, a special education advocacy organization, she underwent testing that confirmed her extraordinary intellect, an IQ of 148, which they used to develop an education enrichment plan at school. Aubrey is thriving, not because of the number, but because of the gifts given to her by the Creator.

She's worked incredibly hard this year and gotten into a gifted program at Howard University for middle school—we are still awaiting others! I want her to be surrounded by students and teachers that can challenge her and keep her engaged in her day-to-day.

I am starting this GoFundMe to help with the various costs it requires to help Aubrey take this next step. And it's important that we start preparing her now, so she's ready for September! My initial ask is focused on her expenses required.

Your support will help cover:

STEM Program Fees – Providing hands-on learning and access to specialized instruction that sparks her curiosity and builds her skills.

Transportation Costs – Ensuring she can get to school, attend important events, mentorship sessions, and learning opportunities.

Exposure to Valuable Learning Resources – Connecting Aubrey with mentors, experiences, and educational tools that will prepare her for a future in STEM.

Private School Tuition – Giving Aubrey a high-quality, enriched academic environment—and the books, school supplies, wardrobe, needed throughout the year. Amount for tuition to come later depending on what program she gets into.

I do my absolute best to provide everything for Aubrey to keep up with her gifts and intellect. At this stage, we cannot make it to the next level without some support.

Any donation, large or small, is hugely appreciated!

Best,

Lashawn & Aubrey