Daily Inspiration: Meet Tenisha Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tenisha Smith.

Hi Tenisha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a proud descendent of William Byron Rumford. My great uncle Byron was the first African American to hold public office in Northern California. Uncle Byron was elected to the State Assembly in 1948 becoming an effective legislator immediately. He wrote bills against job discrimination in the schools and he also made it illegal for car insurance companies to deny people of color motor coverage.

However, one of his greatest accomplishments was passing the Rumford Fair Housing Act of 1963 which made it illegal to discriminate against people of color when it comes to renting or owning real estate in the state of California. Byron worked with Dr. Martin Luther King during the civil rights movement and in 1968 the Rumford Fair Housing Act became a nationwide law! My amazing uncle is the reason I got into real estate! Learning about everything that he had done for the community and for the United States of America let me know that my calling was higher than I’d ever imagined!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, after I really was able to learn my family history, I felt like I had it all figured out. I’m confident, personable, knowledgeable and ready to go out and make changes in our community! This was supposed to be the smoothest process of my life, lol! Then shortly after I passed my test (on the first try) the pandemic hit and knocked me down. BUT I did not stay down. I was really able to take that time to learn the real estate business and to effectively strategize a plan for success!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Realtor with Agents Of LA, the celebrity brokerage that has the hit show Love & Listings on VH1 and my goal is to make this an easy and smooth process for my clients. I think what sets me apart from others is that money does not drive me (although it does pay my bills, haha) I genuinely want to help people achieve generational wealth through owning real estate in California. I don’t believe our ancestors went through their struggles so that their children and grandchildren and great grandchildren could go through that same struggle. If we focus on generational wealth now, it will allow our descendants to work smarter not harder. Meaning they won’t have to live paycheck to paycheck and still be in debt by the end of the month. I’d like to see each and every client I have achieve this. I am proud to carry the torch of my family legacy continuing the work of my uncle Byron and teaching as many people that I can about what we stand for. Generational wealth and equality.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I llloooooovvveeeee LA! I love the diversity in personalities all across Los Angeles. I love the fact that I can see the ocean and the snow on the mountains at the same time. I love the fact that LA is culturally rich. The Art scene is amazing here! LA is king for entertainment! And let’s not even start on the brunch scene, lol. I love every single thing about it. The good, the bad and the ugly. There’s no place I’d rather be.

Contact Info:

• Email: Tenisha@AgentsOfLA.com
• Instagram: @TenishaSmithRealEstate