Ryan J. Smith to Deliver Frederick Douglass Human Rights Lecture

Ryan J. Smith, president and CEO of St. Joseph Center, will deliver the 2026 Frederick Douglass Human Rights Lecture at the University of La Verne. (Courtesy Ryan J. Smith)

 The St. Joseph Center CEO shares his journey from personal hardship to leading efforts against homelessness and poverty at the annual Frederick Douglass Human Rights Lecture

On his left arm, Ryan J. Smith wears a permanent reminder of resilience and justice: a tattoo of Frederick Douglass accompanied by the words, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” The image is more than ink- it symbolizes a lifelong commitment to social justice and community care, a mission Smith has devoted his career to advancing. “Douglass is a personal hero of mine,” Smith said. “I’m honored to talk about my hero under his name.” That admiration will come to life on February 18 when Smith delivers the Frederick Douglass Human Rights Lecture at the University of La Verne.
Smith’s connection to social justice is deeply personal. Growing up, his mother, a single parent, spent her life savings to move from South Los Angeles to Culver City, hoping to give her son access to better schools and opportunities. But after 10 years in that home, Smith returned from school to find an eviction notice. With tears in her eyes, his mother handed him a trash bag and said, “We have to leave.”
Through the generosity of neighbors and support from his high school counselor and assistant principal, Smith was able to remain in his community and eventually attend UCLA. “I am a product of the kind of continuum of care we need to address homelessness in this generation,” he said. “I have the privilege of giving back in a way that recognizes how people gave to me.”
That giving back defines Smith’s work as president and CEO of St. Joseph Center, a Los Angeles nonprofit serving families facing homelessness and extreme poverty. Under his leadership, the organization provides housing assistance, mental health services, job and culinary training, and youth programs aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty. “St. Joseph Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year,” Smith said. “We were founded by amazing social justice sisters who believed it’s not just what you do, but how you do it. Students interested in helping marginalized communities should find an organization that sings to their heart and figure out how they can contribute.”
In his lecture, Smith plans to combine personal narrative with a data–driven look at homelessness and systemic disparities affecting communities of color. He will explore national and local trends, highlight programs that are successfully reducing housing instability, and outline how targeted policy, intention, and energy can make ending homelessness possible. Smith holds a doctorate in education from UCLA and has been recognized with the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs and the national Annie E. Casey Foundation Fellowship.
The Frederick Douglass Human Rights Lecture celebrates leaders advancing justice, equity, and human dignity. For Smith, the lecture represents both a personal honor and an extension of the mission that began with his own lived experience. “I want people to see that it can be done,” he said. “With intention, policy, focus, and energy, we can ensure we end homelessness in this generation.”

To find out more about the upcoming lecture: click here