A lifelong resident of West Baltimore and a seasoned community organizer, Ray C. Kelly is internationally recognized for working for social and restorative justice, better community and police relations, and legislative reform with the residents of Central West Baltimore (Pennsylvania Ave). He also serves as Vice-Chair of the executive committee at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Baltimore’s Sandtown neighborhood.

Recognized for his faith-based advocacy for peace and equity, Ray brought the Pax Christi International Peace Award to the United States for the first time in 25 years as Executive Director of the No Boundaries Coalition. Additionally, he was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Faith in Baltimore Award. He has been a leader in community advocacy for West Baltimore for decades and a driving force behind the West Baltimore community Commission on Police Conduct. Their report, “Over-Policed, Yet Underserved: The People’s Findings Regarding Police Misconduct in West Baltimore,’ was referenced multiple times in the DOJ’s findings and was presented to a United Nations Special Repertoire. Ray was a National Justice Policy Network fellow in 2015 with the Raben Group and received the strategic Action Award from the Open Society Institute-Baltimore in 2018. In 2018, Ray was also appointed to the Civilian Oversight Taskforce and subsequently became its Chair. He now serves as Principal of the Citizens Policing Project, a resident-led advocacy group focused on elevating resident voices for a safer Baltimore.