Purpose Over Everything
From faith to purpose: How two Iowa laws changed everything for my family.
In 2026, we got two laws passed in Iowa.
One helps protect student-athletes through Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in schools.
The other opened the door for my daughter to become the first 8th grader in Iowa history to play varsity basketball.
For a long time, all I had was faith.
Today, God whispered, "Now you see it."
This was never about basketball. This was never about recognition.
It was always about purpose.
Basketball is the vessel.
Arsiema Smith is a youth advocate and consultant who leverages basketball to empower young athletes and strengthen communities. With over two decades in child welfare and juvenile justice, she has worked with high-risk youth across New York and Las Vegas. Her personal experiences with adversity and her daughter's health challenges drive her advocacy for youth safety, health education, and athletic policy reform…
