Speaker

Larry Smith

Larry Smith

President/CEO, Fathers and Families Center, Indianapolis

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Larry is President/CEO of Fathers and Families Center (FFC). FFC is Indiana’s premiere organization that serves fathers of all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. From assisting with High School Equivalency completion, to expungement, to job placement, to strengthening bonds between dads and their children, FFC equips fathers and empowers families so that children thrive.

Prior to his current role, Larry was Director of Development for the Hamilton County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). He is also founder & CEO of Leading Edge Advisory Firm (LEAF LLC), a multi- faceted consultancy that he created in 2009. LEAF equips leaders who wish to improve their – or their organization’s – efficacy and efficiency.

Previously, Larry served as Managing Director of Indiana University’s Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence. He also served as a Senior Vice President of the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, as a Director at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, and as a Deputy Director of Hudson Institute. Larry began his career at Cummins Inc., where he ultimately became the youngest Director of Corporate Strategy in the company’s history to that point.

Among the honors Larry has received are being selected for the Indianapolis Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” award, “Indy’s Best & Brightest Award” from Junior Achievement, and a Fellow at the Tobias Leadership Center. Larry currently serves on the following boards: Ivy Tech Community College Foundation, Newfields, and Indiana Professional Management Group (IMPG).

Larry earned a BA in History from Williams College, where he was a Lehman Scholar. He also earned an MS in Management from Stanford Business School, where he was a Sloan Fellow.

Area of Expertise

  • Business & Management
  • Government, Social Sector & Education

: Welcome Home: How to Effectively Reduce Recidivism

A father’s body can return from incarceration, but his mind and spirit might remain caged. This engaging experience presents a comprehensive, evidence-based model for facilitating successful reintroduction of returning citizens – particularly fathers – into society, the workforce, and their family. Collectively, we’ll learn from the nationally recognized work of Fathers and Families Center in Indianapolis, where the recidivism rate among participants is less than 7% (as compared to the city's average of 45%), President & CEO Larry Smith presents a holistic approach to reentry.



You will learn that, while securing a job is important, but it is not sufficient by itself. Effective reintegration requires addressing the full scope of man's needs: educational advancement, expungement and legal support, employment preparedness, housing stability, parenting and relationship skills, and mental/emotional wellbeing.



This presentation will go from didactic to dialogical, with Smith highlighting how FFC's approach combines practical supports with a culture of love and accountability – "We do not coddle these men, neither do we condemn them. We love them to life." Participants will explore proven strategies that can be replicated to reduce recidivism, strengthen families, and create new cycles of community impact. Come. Learn. Share.

27th International Families and Fathers Conference - Next Generation Sessionize Event Upcoming

April 2026 Los Angeles, California, United States

Larry Smith

President/CEO, Fathers and Families Center, Indianapolis

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