Larell Smith-Bacon
Trainer, Restorative Justice Project
Larell Smith-Bacon is a seasoned practitioner and facilitator in the realm of restorative justice, specializing in community conferencing, dialogue circles, and victim-offender dialogues. With a wealth of experience as both a facilitator and trainer, she previously held the role of Executive Director at Restorative Response Baltimore—an organization deeply devoted to conflict resolution and the nurturing of community connections in Baltimore, Maryland. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Restorative Arlington, a restorative justice program dedicated to bringing restorative justice practices to Arlington County’s legal system, schools, and the community.
Larell embarked on her journey in the field of restorative justice during her formative years at Morgan State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work. Her commitment drove her towards internships at the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program of Baltimore City and the Baltimore Child Abuse Center, allowing her to refine her skills and kindle her passion for restorative justice practices. After graduating from Morgan State, she worked alongside a multidisciplinary team of practitioners as the Volunteer Coordinator and Scheduler for the Baltimore Child Abuse Center.
In 2010, Larell joined Restorative Response Baltimore, formerly known as the Community Conferencing Center. She began her journey as a dedicated case coordinator and community conferencing facilitator. Progressing to the role of Conference Program Director in 2017, she embraced a title that more precisely captured the breadth of her contributions. This position encompassed co-facilitating approximately 50 facilitator trainings, guiding over 500 restorative justice processes, and actively participating in the training and implementation of more than 20 restorative justice programs nationwide. Her steadfast dedication over this decade laid the foundation for her transition to the role of Acting Executive Director in 2019. By February 2020, she had earned the permanent title of Executive Director, a position she fulfilled with unwavering dedication, even amid the challenges posed by a global pandemic.
Notably, Smith-Bacon has co-presented at the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice Conference in 2015, 2017, and 2019. In 2021, she served as keynote speaker for the 5th Annual Meeting of the Restorative Network in Forensic Mental Health and the 3rd Annual RJC Conference. In 2023, Smith-Bacon joined Mariame Kaba in conversation on the topic of "Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care,” further solidifying her place as a thought leader in the field.
Larell Smith-Bacon now spends her time channeling her energies into her true passion: nurturing restorative justice practices. Drawing extensively from her toolkit of techniques and insights, she remains committed to disseminating her wisdom and cultivating the growth of these practices. Her overarching mission is to propagate and plant the seeds of restoration, ensuring that the cherished principles she upholds continue to thrive within the community she has steadfastly served.