Colleen Smith - Center for Justice Innovation

Colleen joined Newark Community Solutions, the Center’s community justice initiative in New Jersey, as the Clinical Coordinator in 2014. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Director of New Jersey Programs at the Center for Justice Innovation, she now oversees Newark Community Solutions and supports the Center’s work throughout the state of New Jersey. Colleen possesses over a decade of experience working with people involved in the legal system in both community and custodial settings. In addition to her work at the Center, Colleen works in higher education and is an alumnus of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Clinical Scholars program, a national leadership program that helps interdisciplinary teams of clinicians build a culture of health in their communities.

Colleen holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from New York University and a Bachelor’s Degree from McGill University.

Colleen's Updates

Investing in Financial Empowerment in Red Hook

Our Red Hook Community Justice Center hosted its first workshop series to help residents build their financial literacy skills.

New Rochelle Forges a Path to New Community Justice Center

The New Rochelle Community Justice Center is taking a new approach to building safety across the city by investing in young people's futures.

What Is Community Justice?

To achieve true justice, we must build safety. And for communities to feel truly safe, there must be justice.

Why Community Justice Is at the Heart of Our Mission

As our work has evolved, our mission has only become stronger and clearer. That’s why we’re updating our mission statement to reflect the approach at the heart of all of our work: Community Justice.