Christian Oliver-Smith
Economic Development Associate, The Coalition DC
Christian Oliver-Smith joined the Coalition in 2025 as the Economic Development Associate, where he supports initiatives to build comprehensive economic ecosystems and expand access to opportunity in historically underserved communities across Washington, DC.
As the Economic Development Associate, Christian plays a key role in advancing advocacy efforts, strengthening the DC Small Business Ecosystem, facilitating working groups, and optimizing program operations to support economic growth and collaboration among the Coalition community and its stakeholders. This position supports The Coalition’s strategic outreach and high-impact initiatives that foster community engagement, public policy advocacy, and capacity building. Christian works closely with the various community stakeholders and partners within the small business ecosystem to help implement innovative solutions that address strategies to increase economic opportunities. As a Charlottesville, Virginia, native, Christian brings experience in public policy, community development, and impact investing. He interned at the International Rescue Committee and the U.S. Department of Justice, where he focused on refugee career development and spatial crime analysis, respectively. While completing his Master of Public Policy at the University of Virginia, Christian partnered with InvestSWVA on a year-long capstone evaluating utility-scale clean energy projects—solar, wind, and biodiesel—as tools for economic revitalization in Southwest Virginia. His work combined cost-benefit analysis, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning to help transition coal-centric communities toward long-term sustainability. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science from UVA, which informs his interdisciplinary and community-centered approach to development