Laura Smith-Centeno, LMHC

Senior Creative Director

Laura is an expressive arts therapist & community art educator who has spent her career working with schools, communities, and organizations to nurture individual and collective growth and healing through creativity. She has been designing and facilitating creative processes for the past 15 years throughout the US and its Southern Border, Central and South America, East Africa and Asia, and at home in Massachusetts. Her work uses a myriad of expressive resources, including community murals, peacemaking circles, visual art experientials, spontaneous play, and rhythm to promote healing, dialogue, and transformation.

Laura began her journey at RAW in 2011 as a visiting artist and went on to bring RAW’s model to Lynn Public Schools, lead art therapy groups, and co-lead several youth employment opportunities and community partnerships. Before coming to RAW, Laura worked at the Latino Health Institute (now the Gandara Center), Roca Inc. in Chelsea, MA, New Bedford Public Schools, and The Creative Action Institute in San Salvador, El Salvador.  Laura is the recipient of a 2021 Fulbright award for her work exploring the intersections of public art, healing, and peacebuilding in Medellin, Colombia

Laura re-joined the team at RAW in 2022 as RAW’s first Senior Creative Director