Touchdown for Change
The roar of the crowd at Paycor Stadium is usually reserved for a game-winning touchdown or a third-down sack. But this December, the loudest applause belonged to a different kind of victory. The Cincinnati Bengals have named Rickell Howard Smith as their 2025 Inspire Change Changemaker. This award recognizes leaders who are not just playing the game but changing the rules for the better.
Rickell Howard Smith is the President and CEO of the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati. She is a force of nature in the fight for equity. The NFL’s Inspire Change initiative focuses on four key pillars. These include education, economic advancement, police-community relations, and criminal justice reform. Smith’s career touches every single one of these bases.
A Hometown Hero With a Global Vision
Smith is a proud product of Cincinnati. She graduated from Walnut Hills High School before earning her degrees from Howard University and Temple University School of Law. She returned home with a mission. She wanted to dismantle the systemic barriers holding her community back.
Her resume reads like a blueprint for social justice. She served as the first Executive Director for the Center for Social Justice at the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio. She fought for juvenile justice reform at the Children’s Law Center. Her work has consistently focused on giving a voice to the voiceless.
Building a Sanctuary for Survivors
Her most recent achievement is perhaps her most tangible one. Under Smith’s leadership, the YWCA opened the Francie Garber Pepper House of Healing in May 2025. This is not just a building. It is a lifeline.
The new facility doubled the organization’s capacity to serve domestic violence survivors. It increased the number of available beds from 67 to 120. But the numbers only tell half the story. Smith championed a trauma-informed design that addresses the specific hurdles survivors face.
Many victims stay in abusive situations because they cannot bear to leave their pets behind. Smith solved this problem. The new shelter features a pet kennel. It also includes an outdoor play area for children. These details ensure that families can heal together without leaving anyone behind.
The NFL Takes Notice
The Bengals recognized this monumental effort during their Inspire Change game on December 14. They presented Smith with a $10,000 grant from the NFL Foundation. This funding will go directly to the YWCA to support its critical programming.
This award is about more than a check. It highlights the intersection of sports and community service. It shows that the team cares about the city beyond the gridiron.
A Legacy of Action
Rickell Howard Smith joins a prestigious list of past winners like Christie Kuhns. These leaders are proving that real power lies in lifting others up. Smith has spent her career fighting for fair housing and criminal justice reform. She has now created a physical space of safety for women and children.
The Bengals have a new MVP in Rickell Howard Smith. She reminds us that the most important season is the one where we help our neighbors thrive. That is a championship mindset we can all get behind.