Quotes from the over 70 character letters Ant received after his arrest became known:

Students:

I am a student at YouthBuild where Anthony Smith empowers and encourages us to be incredible, intelligent, graceful, thriving young adults. Let’s say I’m having a bad day and I join Anthony Smith’s class, he will ask us to rate our feelings and when he visualizes that today is not a good day for me, he will email me letting me know that if I need help with anything to let him know, and he will make a joke to make all of us laugh and feel better. Anthony Smith is a wise, respected, honest, laudable, hardworking  paragon.

Mr. Ant is the nicest person in the world and i might not know a lot about him but what i do know is that he’s a loving person and would never hurt anybody or anything. He’s the best teacher anybody could ask for , he always put his students first not just his students but everybody. Please let him come home. We miss and need him.

In our Introduction to Advocacy class, Mr. Ant has gone above and beyond in showing us how to PROPERLY and PEACEFULLY advocate for ourselves. For the last two months, he’s gone out of his way to make sure we understand how important it is to to stand up for what you believe in, in the RIGHT WAY! While in class, Mr. Ant brings the best, most positive energy I’ve seen in anybody. He makes you feel comfortable, like our class is a family. He has done nothing but try to help people and make sure justice is served. I’ve seen many people fall victim to the system, but this is the LAST person who deserves something like this. Anthony Smith is a kind, genuine, caring person and I STAND WITH HIM!

Alumni:

If it wasn't for Mr. Ant I honestly do not know how I would have made it through my time in school. He was there for me even when I didn't want to be there for myself. He showed me that my voice matters and that I could always count on him for anything. Whether  it was a friendly smile when I was down or a listening ear when I felt as though I had no one to turn to.

I first met Mr. Ant when I was a student at YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School in 2017/2018. Little did I know that Mr. Anthony Smith would change my life for the rest of my life for the good. I had anger built up inside me. I had an attitude problem; I was so overdramatic that it was borderline rude. He would talk to me, tell me to chill, show me alternative ways to deal with anger and frustrations, and simply do better. Mr. Ant led by example; being around him made you want to be a better version of yourself, never stop learning, never stop changing, and try to be the best version of yourself. He is one of the most genuine, determined, kindhearted, sensible, gregarious, hopeful people I know.

Colleagues:

I can attest to the fact that Ant has made several positive contributions to the youth of Philadelphia’s life. He has the skill to pull the best out of his students and make them respect their identities and strive to make the world a better place. I can honestly say that Ant has also made me a better teacher and a better person.

Anthony is a diligent and highly effective practitioner who nurtures his students in developing their critical capacities, research skills, and communications skills. Anthony is an excellent role model for students, and he is also humble and focused on doing his work in the interest of the greater good.  He believes in the power of community to love and support each other, and he lives this belief every day.

Knowing Ant hasn’t made me a better person solely because his passion inspires me, his lessons teach me, and his commitment humbles me. Ant makes people better because he also brings so much joy. His laugh and smile are contagious and hearing him cheer on students at graduation is one of my favorite life experiences.

In my 15 years in the education field I have never met a teacher more dedicated to the empowerment of young people than Anthony Smith. He genuinely loves our young people. I see

it in the way he leans in when they talk as if he is absorbing every single syllable of every word they are saying. And they love him, I know that by the way they stay after school just to sit and laugh in his classroom, or get up early on Saturday to do community service with him. I truly believe they also love themselves and their community more because of him. That is the power of Ant, he can make people see more in themselves and their community than they ever

thought possible.