Introducing Steel Smiling’s New Managing Director — Courtney Abegunde

We’re excited to share that Courtney Abegunde has been appointed Managing Director of Steel Smiling, effective February 2026. This transition marks an important milestone as Steel Smiling enters its next chapter of growth and community impact. 

Courtney’s leadership is grounded in a long-standing relationship with Steel Smiling. She first engaged as a volunteer and supporter in 2018 before joining the staff in 2022, later serving as Operations Director, where she led the organization’s core programs and advanced its mission to bridge the gap between Black communities and culturally affirming mental health support. In her new role, she brings continuity, clarity, and a strong strategic lens to guide the organization into its next decade — a progression that reflects both her deep commitment to the mission and the organization’s confidence in her leadership. 

“Courtney is a disciplined, thoughtful leader who pairs strategic rigor with deep compassion for the communities Steel Smiling serves,” said Stephanie Miller, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Neighborhood Allies . “I have watched her strengthen program frameworks, guides teams with clarity and accountability, and hold fast to a vision rooted in culturally affirming care. Her appointment as Managing Director is a direct reflection of her unwavering commitment to this work and the trust she has earned through steady, values-driven leadership. She leads with both head and heart, and that combination positions Steel Smiling for meaningful, sustainable growth in this next chapter.” 

A community mental health educator and advocate, Courtney’s leadership is grounded in both lived experience and practice. She oversees Steel Smiling’s flagship programs—Steel Healing, Beams to Bridges, and Wellspring—and has played a central role in strengthening program frameworks, expanding support networks, and centering community-driven healing. 

Courtney’s work has been widely recognized, including honors as a Distinguished Alumna of Chatham University’s Graduate Psychology Program (2025), an Inaugural Global Citizens Fellow with the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh (2024), and a Courier’s Fab 40 Under 40 (2025). She also brings valuable governance and facilitation experience through nonprofit board service and culturally grounded trainings that deepen community wellbeing. 

Her appointment builds on nearly a decade of partnership between Steel Smiling and Neighborhood Allies, beginning with fiscal sponsorship in 2019 and evolving into the Organization-in-Residence model in 2021. Together, this partnership has supported Steel Smiling’s growth, operational strength, and expanding impact across Allegheny County. 

“I’m honored to serve as Managing Director at Steel Smiling and to contribute to a legacy 10 years in the making. I’m deeply grateful for the dedication and brilliance of the Steel team, the steadfast support of our mentors at Neighborhood Allies, and the visionary leadership that laid a powerful foundation for this work. Our team gets to pour into our communities who in turn, send that loving care right back into their families and neighborhoods. This is living proof that community and peer support are not supplemental; they are infrastructure. When healing is embraced as a cultural cornerstone, it shifts systems, strengthens neighborhoods, and expands what’s possible for generations to come. I’m excited to continue this work and look forward to contributing to a system of care where Black healing traditions are resourced, protected, and celebrated.” 

We’re energized to welcome Courtney into this role and look forward to working alongside her as Steel Smiling advances its next phase of growth, partnership, and community impact. 

Related Updates 

• Thank You & Congratulations to Julius 

• Steel Smiling Enters New Chapter with Leadership Transition