Richard Smith

Richard Smith is an academic activist and wounded healer with nearly two decades of experience developing and implementing community-based programs to support the healing process of historically oppressed groups. Richard has worked with youth and adults impacted by the criminal justice system, violence, and trauma as both a case manager and program director in New York’s Capital District and the City of Boston. Richard has taught criminal justice, history, and social work courses as an Adjunct Professor at SUNY Empire State College, Sage College and LIU Brooklyn. He has guest lectured at numerous colleges and universities on issues such as systemic racism, mass incarceration, and trauma and healing. Richard is currently the National Director of HealingWorks, a learning collaborative created to build a field and a national movement committed to addressing the trauma and violence experienced by young men of color. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University at Albany in Africana Studies and a Bachelor’s Degree from Boston University in Sociology. He is presently a doctoral candidate at SUNY Albany’s School of Social Welfare. His research focus is male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. He is the proud father of two sons, Kaden (5 years.) and Kaleb (7 years).