We recently had the chance to connect with Tarea Smith-Lewis and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tarea, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
For me, integrity is the foundation. Intelligence and energy are valuable, but without integrity they crumble. Integrity is about doing what’s right when no one is watching, keeping your word, and honoring your commitments.
As a leader, people don’t just follow what you say—they follow what you live. Integrity builds the trust that allows intelligence and energy to actually make a difference.
“Integrity is what sustains relationships and builds trust.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
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My name is Tarea Smith-Lewis, Founder and CEO of Tiandre’s Treasure Chest Inc., a community-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering women, youth, and families through wraparound services, leadership development, and creative mentorship. My journey began after losing my first husband to senseless gun violence at just 24 years old while raising three sons in government housing. From that pain, I found purpose—and today I lead programs that help others overcome hardship, rebuild their lives, and unlock their full potential.
As a service provider at Lincoln Gardens Apartments and Liberty Square Community Center, I’m honored to serve under the leadership of Mr. Nathaniel Joseph and Mr. Lizander Martinez of The Related Group, where we work together to strengthen families, empower youth, and build thriving, resilient communities.
Many also know me as “Mama Smiff.” The name grew from years of showing up in Miami’s music scene to support my sons—celebrity artists Mike Smiff and Rondo Smiff—and extending that same encouragement to countless other young artists. Over time, the community began to see me as more than a mother to my own children; I became a mentor and guiding voice for others. “Mama Smiff” is more than a name—it’s a reflection of love, leadership, and legacy.
At 58, I proudly model to show women that aging is not a limitation but an invitation to reinvent yourself. My passion is blending empowerment, leadership, and creativity with practical tools like financial literacy, music, and mentorship. Through Tiandre’s Treasure Chest, our newest initiative—the OTM Youth Edition—uses music as a tool to heal, teach, and transform. Together, we are building a legacy of love, service, and empowerment that continues to change lives across Miami.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One of the defining moments that changed how I see the world was when God led me to donate a kidney to my husband—and I was tested and found to be a perfect match. That moment wasn’t just medical; it was divine. It revealed that what we carry inside of us isn’t meant only for ourselves—it’s often the very thing that can heal or help someone else.
That experience reshaped my entire outlook on life. I realized that we are all deeply connected, and that the true measure of living isn’t in what we hold on to, but in what we’re willing to give. It also reminded me that our first ministry begins at home—because how can we serve the world and neglect our own families? When we nurture what’s closest to us, we become stronger to serve our communities.
For me, that act of love wasn’t just about saving my husband’s life—it was a divine call to live with purpose, compassion, and service. It’s the same calling that fuels everything I do today through Tiandre’s Treasure Chest—empowering mothers, families, and youth to discover their inner treasures and use them to uplift others.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain the moment I fully surrendered my heart to Jesus Christ. For years, I carried everything quietly—grief, loss, single motherhood, and the weight of survival—believing strength meant silence. But when I surrendered, I realized my pain wasn’t meant to be buried; it was meant to be transformed.
That surrender became my turning point. My wounds became wisdom, my trials became testimony, and my brokenness became a bridge for others to find healing. It was in that moment that I understood my true assignment—to use everything I’ve been through to empower others.
That’s what led me to become a Certified Transformation Coach and why I founded Tiandre’s Treasure Chest Inc. My life became living proof that what once hurt you can also heal others, if you allow God to turn your pain into purpose.
“My treasure is where my heart is—serving, empowering, and uplifting others.”
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am deeply committed to the Only The Music – Youth Empowerment Edition (OTM) program because music literally saved my life. As a young girl bullied and overlooked, I found healing through writing lyrics, rapping, and dancing—it gave me a voice when I felt invisible.
Music has always been in my blood. My father, Joseph Sr., filled our home with albums, and my mother, Elveria, expressed her creativity through poetry and piano. That love of music shaped my brothers and cousin—my eldest brother Joseph is a gospel hip-hop artist and CEO of Jehovah Jamz Records, my brother Dorian explored rap in his younger years and later channeled his creativity into entrepreneurship, my brother Lil XZab is a up and coming hip-hop artist, and my cousin Sonya AKA Mother Superia is a Miami hip-hop legend. Their stories prove that in our family, music has always been more than sound—it’s been a lifeline.
That legacy continues through my sons. RC is an artist whose creativity helped shape our family’s music journey—he designed the original logos for his brothers, Mike Smiff and Rondo Smiff, who have grown into artists, mentors, and leaders in their own right. Mike Smiff, signed to Slip-N-Slide Records, has become one of Miami’s most authentic voices in hip-hop, known for his powerful storytelling and passion for inspiring others through his lyrics. Rondo Smiff, a producer, artist, and mentor, represents the next generation of sound and purpose, using his platform to teach and uplift youth through music.
Now, through the OTM Youth Edition, we’re extending that lifeline to a new generation—and the vision is expanding even further. Mike and Rondo Smiff are preparing to launch OTM Headquarters and Music Studio, located in the heart of Liberty City. Youth from our summer programs at Lincoln Gardens and Liberty Square will be transported to the studio for hands-on sessions in music production, songwriting, and mentorship during summer break. It’s more than a creative space—it’s a safe haven where purpose and potential meet opportunity.
This work continues in strong collaboration with our Liberty United partners—including Lashawntae Howard, CEO of LTHYC, Ms. Sheila Richardson, CEO of Helping Hands Youth Center, and several other community-based organizations within the Liberty City community. Together, we are building bridges that connect creativity with opportunity—ensuring that every young person feels seen, supported, and inspired.
Thanks to the support of the Jorge M. Pérez Philanthropic Foundation and The Miami Foundation, we’re able to bring this vision to life—offering youth a safe space to learn, create, and connect. Studies show that music reduces depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, while mentorship keeps young people grounded and engaged. OTM gives them more than beats—it gives them discipline, leadership, and hope.
We’re also deeply grateful to The Related Group for their continued support—providing office space, financial backing, and a home for our programs at Lincoln Gardens and Liberty Square. Their partnership allows us to serve our families and youth more effectively, turning community spaces into centers of creativity, learning, and development.
I’m committed to it no matter how long it takes, because music raised me, it raised my family, and now it’s raising a generation.
“Music raised me, and now through OTM Youth Edition, it’s raising a generation.”
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I deeply understand the power of small beginnings—and how to turn pain into prayer. My son Mike wrote a book called Doing the Most with the Least, which echoes one of my favorite scriptures: “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” (Zechariah 4:10). Most people overlook the hidden, humble places, but I’ve learned those are the very places where God does His best work.
Prayer gave me strength in those beginnings. It carried me through homelessness, single motherhood, and bullying, and later into joy as a wife, grandmother, entrepreneur, and celebrity mom. What others might see as small or broken, I see as treasures in disguise—because prayer didn’t just comfort me, it transformed me.
“What others see as small or broken, I see as the place where legacy begins.”
As we continue growing, I invite community members, donors, and collaborators to join us in empowering families and youth across Miami. Together, we can continue transforming lives—one treasure at a time. Every act of kindness, partnership, and prayer helps us keep unlocking potential and building legacies that last.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tiandrestreasurechest.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiandres.treasures?igsh=MTRpZHh1enFxa3o2cw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tiandre.L?
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/watch?v=QV0N_bstB30&feature=shared
- Other: @mamasmiff305
@mikesmiff305
@rondosmiff305
@athealth2000
@tiandre.l
Image Credits
Reg. Stringfellow, Tiandre’s Treasure Chest Inc., OTM Entertainment
