Robert M. Francis

Principal

Smart Justice LLC

Robert Francis recently retired 2019, after 19 years as the Executive Director of RYASAP – the Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership, a youth and community leadership development coalition serving the Greater Bridgeport, CT area and the State of Connecticut. Robert is currently an organizational development consultant providing assistance to nonprofit organizations in executive coaching, program and policy development, criminal justice policy reform; staff development, alternative organizational structures and training in community development and coalition building.

Robert has worked for decades in executive leadership positions at the local, state and national levels in service with communities, young people and families. He has worked in juvenile justice, child welfare, and educational reform; adolescent substance abuse and mental health; and youth and community development. Prior to RYASP, Robert’s previous work includes being the Regional Director for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, Program Director for the United Way of Eastern Fairfield County, and Executive Director of Stratford Community Services, a youth and family service agency.

Robert is a faculty member of the Assets Based Community Development Institute at DePaul University where he provides keynote addresses, technical assistance and workshops in developing community-building approaches to strengthen communities. He is a co-founder of Public Allies of Connecticut and the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance. Bob has a Masters Degree in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelors Degree in Urban Studies and an Associate Degree in Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

He is married to Holly Francis and has three grown children – Aaron, Sara and Douglas and seven wondrous grandchildren – Jack, Matthew, Scott Robert, Mary, Bodhi, Wilder and Annabelle!