Crime Survivors Speak

In this episode of Crime Survivors Speak, host Aswad Thomas sits down with Sommer Alexander, Texas Chapter Coordinator for TimeDone and a Reentry Peer Support Specialist with the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance. Drawing from her own lived experience with victimization, incarceration, and reentry, Sommer shares how gaps in support for survivors can too often become pathways into criminalization—what is known as the victimization to prison pipeline. Sommer reflects on surviving a violent stabbing, navigating homelessness, and witnessing how survivors with records are routinely denied care, compensation, and recognition. She discusses how these failures played out for her partner and for countless Texans—more than nine million people—living with old records that block access to housing, employment, and safety. From record-expungement events to community education and chapter-building, Sommer offers a grounded look at how system-impacted people are organizing to reclaim their futures. Together, Sommer and Aswad explore what real community safety looks like beyond incarceration, why most harm happens between people who know each other, and how trauma care, mediation, and economic stability can prevent violence before it happens.

In this episode of the Crime Survivors Speak podcast, host Aswad Thomas sits down with Juan Pablo Chavez, Organizing Director at Crime Survivors Speak and a longtime community organizer whose work bridges faith, culture, and survivor-led advocacy.   Juan Pablo shares how surviving violence shaped his calling to justice work—and why so many survivors, particularly in Latino and immigrant communities, face layers of trauma, fear, and exclusion when seeking safety or support. Drawing on more than two decades of organizing at the neighborhood, state, and national levels, he reflects on what it means for survivors to become architects of healing, capable of transforming pain into collective power.   The conversation explores the role of faith in justice work, the importance of Trauma Recovery Centers, and why building relationships with lawmakers is essential to creating real public safety rooted in dignity, healing, and accountability. This episode is a powerful reminder that when survivors speak—and organize—change truly happens.

In this episode of Crime Survivors Speak, Aswad Thomas sits down with restorative justice leader Ghani Songster, who spent 30 years in prison after being sentenced to life without parole as a teenager and has since become one of the nation’s most visionary voices on healing and accountability. Ghani reflects on why hope is not a luxury but a necessity, and how restorative justice creates what our current system cannot: honest dialogue, shared humanity, and pathways to real reconciliation. He describes the transformation that becomes possible when survivors, responsible parties, and communities are finally brought together to heal—not separated by a courtroom. Ghani also shares powerful stories from the circle processes he facilitates, including moments when people on both sides of harm experience mutual understanding for the first time. This conversation invites listeners to imagine a justice system rooted in connection, dignity, and the belief that transformation is possible for all of us.

In this episode of Crime Survivors Speak, Aswad Thomas sits down with California-based advocate Enako Jefferson, a survivor, mentor, and co-CEO of the Jireh Shalom Foundation. Enako’s story is one of deep faith, loss, and transformation—a journey that has shaped her life’s mission to bring healing to both survivors of violence and those who have caused harm. Drawing from her personal experience and decades of advocacy, Enako speaks about the importance of parole reform, trauma-informed justice, and the need to see accountability and compassion as interconnected. She reflects on how community, empathy, and faith can help repair harm and restore lives, reminding us that healing is never a solo act—it’s something we build together.

In this episode of Crime Survivors Speak, survivor advocate and community leader Elle Travis joins Aswad Thomas for a powerful conversation about survival, systemic failure, and the urgent need for change. A survivor of sexual violence, Elle shares how her own experience—compounded by the Detroit rape kit backlog and harmful biases within the justice system—led her to found Hands on Healing Detroit, a grassroots organization that supports survivors and uplifts community healing. Together, Elle and Aswad explore how Black women are often denied their status as victims, how trauma and victimization are deeply interconnected, and why true justice must include both accountability and care. Elle offers a message of resilience, reminding survivors that they are not alone—and that healing is not only possible, but powerful.

Survivors have a unique perspective that can drive meaningful change in policy. In this episode of Crime Survivors Speak, host Aswad Thomas speaks with Dion Green, a survivor of the Dayton mass shooting that claimed his father's life. Dion shares his journey from trauma to advocacy, discussing the importance of survivor resources, community healing, and the establishment of the Fudge Foundation in his father's memory. The conversation highlights the challenges faced by survivors in the aftermath of trauma, the need for support systems, and the impact of gun violence on communities. In this conversation, Dion Green shares his experiences as a survivor of gun violence and his commitment to supporting communities impacted by trauma. He emphasizes the importance of building trust within these communities, advocating for accountability in the gun industry, and the intersections of economic justice and incarceration. Dion also discusses his journey into politics as a means of making change and the significance of maintaining personal wellbeing while engaging in activism.

In this powerful episode, Callie Greer, a longtime grassroots organizer and community navigator for Alabama Appleseed, shares how her personal loss led her to fight for the right to heal—a vision of justice that prioritizes healing, accountability, and investment in community safety.   Callie recounts advocating for a more compassionate sentence for the young man who took her son’s life, recognizing that true justice offers a path for both survivors and those who have caused harm to heal. She also reflects on her experience at the March on Washington, where she found strength in a movement of survivors fighting for real safety.   Aswad Thomas closes the episode with an exciting announcement: CSSJ will be launching a new chapter in Alabama in 2025. This expansion will help support survivor-led organizations like Alabama Appleseed, ensuring more communities have access to the resources, advocacy, and policy reforms needed to create lasting change.   Join us for this deeply moving conversation about resilience, justice, and the power of survivors leading the way.  

In this episode, we sit down with Rafiah Muhammad-McCormick to discuss the need for restorative forms of justice that center healing for survivors. Rafiah shares how the tragic loss of her son inspired her to create Rodney’s Village, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing violence and supporting teenage parents. While reflecting on the power of storytelling as advocacy, Aswad and Rafiah recount a powerful moment they shared at this year’s March on Washington and explore how moments of solidarity fuel the fight for survivor-centered policies. Listen in to hear the moment Aswad announces an exciting milestone: CSSJ will be opening a new chapter in Rafiah’s home state of Tennessee to provide survivors with the support, services, and trainings to advocate for meaningful change. Join us for an inspiring conversation about resilience, community, and reimagining justice.

In this episode, Ingrid Archie, the Organizing Director for TimeDone, shares her journey from a childhood shaped by the War on Drugs in LA to becoming a fierce advocate for formerly incarcerated women. As a mother and domestic violence survivor, Ingrid endured years of trauma that led to her cycling in and out of prisons and losing custody of her children. But thanks to Ingrid’s tireless advocacy, Prop 47 offered her a path out of prison, allowing her to reunite with her family and dedicate herself to helping others break free from the stigma of old records at CSSJ and A New Way of Life. Ingrid's story highlights the burden of post-conviction poverty, the victimization-to-prison pipeline, and the transformative impact of second chances.  With Prop 36 on California’s ballot this year, this episode offers critical insight into the danger of prioritizing punishment over a care-first approach to justice. Please share with anyone who wants to learn about the consequences of regressive punitive policies and how to support the 70,000 people in the US currently living under 40,000 post-conviction legal restrictions.

In this episode, Anthony DiMartino dives into his journey into criminal justice reform, highlighting the transformative power of survivor stories to drive policy change. He reveals the secrets to building strong relationships with legislators through shared values, active listening, and showing up consistently. By centering the voices of those most impacted, Anthony shares effective strategies for achieving long-term policy change that empowers survivors. He tackles the challenges of navigating misinformation and fear mongering, particularly around Proposition 47, and showcases its positive impact on community reinvestment and trauma recovery centers. With key lessons from successful advocacy, Anthony emphasizes the importance of valuing every individual and maintaining a long-term perspective. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on leveraging personal experiences for impactful civic engagement and legislative success.

In this episode, we get to talk to Danny Montes, the Organizing Director for Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice about the power of political advocacy and relationship-building with legislators. Danny shares his personal journey, explaining how pivotal moments in his life led him to champion public safety and reforming the criminal justice system. He lifts up the Heal the Vote campaign, which mobilizes crime survivors to participate in civic engagement and voting, and reflects on his experience as an Obama leader, highlighting its influence on his leadership style. This episode is a powerful reminder of how local leadership and community-driven initiatives can contribute to lasting change.

In this special episode of the Crime Survivors Speak Podcast, we take a moment to turn the microphone towards our own producer, Annie Nichol, whose personal journey is rooted in the very foundation of survivor advocacy and storytelling. As a survivor of a high-profile crime that reshaped the national conversation on justice, Annie brings a unique perspective to the sensationalism often found in media narratives around crime and victims. Reflecting on the personal tragedy of losing her sister, Polly Klaas, Annie shares the complex journey of navigating a highly publicized case and the subsequent legislative changes that led to the widespread implementation of Three Strikes laws. She speaks candidly about the pain of witnessing her sister's story being used to propagate systems of harm and describes her deep commitment to advocating for a justice system driven by healing rather than retribution. This conversation emphasizes the importance of compassionate storytelling that amplifies survivors' leadership and power, proposing a vision of advocacy wherein survivors can collectively harness their creativity as a powerful tool for implementing change and building community.

This week’s episode focuses on the incredible story of Kojo Mensah, a former professional basketball player who turned a personal tragedy into his inspiration to help revitalize an entire community.   Born in Ghana and raised in the United States, Kojo's promising basketball career was tragically cut short by gun violence at his college campus, an event that not only left him and his teammates physically wounded but also subjected them to baseless blame and stigma—an experience all too common in Black communities across the US. In spite of this trauma, Kojo channeled his experiences into a force for positive change, founding the Kosah Foundation to support his home community of Canarsie, Brooklyn. Through the Kosah Foundation, Kojo works to foster a love for basketball among the Canarsie youth and provide them with opportunities for growth and development. His work goes beyond sports; it's about nurturing a sense of belonging, purpose, and hope in a community often overlooked.   In this inspirational conversation, Kojo shares his insights on the importance of shifting out of limiting perspectives, the power of community healing, and the importance of acknowledging and supporting Black victims in the aftermath of violence.

In a profoundly moving episode, we sit down with Vanessa Martinez, an Arizonian survivor leader who turned tragedy into advocacy. Vanessa opens up about the harrowing day she suffered a gunshot wound to the head in a domestic violence incident that was tragically witnessed by one of her children. As she grappled with the physical and emotional aftermath, an already dire situation was made worse by a system that denied her victim compensation due to an old unpaid fine. Despite these insurmountable challenges, Vanessa's story is also one of resilience, community support, and recovery. Through the rallying of her community, she reclaimed her life, her children, and her home. This episode is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the imperative need for a justice system that truly supports survivors.

Bertha Purnell is a tireless advocate, founder of Mothers On A Mission 28, and the Chicago Chapter Coordinator for Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. Driven by the tragic loss of her son Maurice to gun violence, Bertha has dedicated herself to creating a network of support and services for survivors and their families in Illinois. In this episode, Bertha opens up about the motivation behind starting Mothers On A Mission 28—a grassroots organization designed to bridge the gap where existing services fall short in adequately supporting survivors. Listen to discover how Bertha’s relentless advocacy led to groundbreaking legislative changes in Illinois last year, making victim services more available and accessible than ever before. We also delve into the critical need for more Trauma Recovery Centers and how collective efforts can create a more compassionate and effective system for survivors. Please join us as we explore the vision of a leader who turned personal tragedy into a lifelong mission for justice and healing.

Aswad Thomas is a familiar voice in advocating for survivors–and a familiar voice on this podcast. But not everyone knows the profound journey that brought Aswad to be the National Director for Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. In this episode, guest interviewer Jonathon Lewis flips the script to ask Aswad about his survivor story and path to leadership. From growing up in communities marked by crime and poverty, Aswad defied the odds as a straight-A student and the first in his family to graduate college. But shortly before he was to begin a professional international basketball career, Aswad’s life changed overnight when he became a victim of gun violence. While on the operating table, he learned the surgeon removing his bullets had previously operated on one of his teenage assailants, who had once been a victim as well. This realization catalyzed Aswad’s drive to disrupt the cycle of harm that left too many victims like himself without compensation or support of any kind after life-altering trauma. Aswad's story is one of resilience and reimagining justice, revealing how healing can become the impetus for sweeping change.

 Yolanda Jennings is an organizer from Philadelphia, where she works to support survivors recovering from domestic violence. Having lost multiple family members to domestic violence and being a survivor of DV herself, Yolanda has seen where the system fails to help people trying to escape intimate partner abuse and is co-creating the solutions that allow people to rebuild their lives after violence. Yolanda talks about her experience at Survivors Speak, where she witnessed the profound connection of survivors sharing their stories on the bus ride back from the Capitol. She also offers up innovative solutions like the Purple House Project (PA), which works to address the needs of DV survivors by connecting women with the resources they need to find housing, healing, and safety. 

Alex Abboud is a licensed social worker and victims advocate who has spent her professional life finding new ways to provide services and support for victims and survivors recovering from harm. From developing the first social work response model for the city of Detroit to becoming CSSJ's Statewide Manager of Pennsylvania, Alex has extensive experience both providing direct services to survivors in the immediate aftermath of trauma as well as advocating to center the voices of survivors in policy making. In this episode, Alex discusses her own survivor story and the journey of keeping her sexual assault secret for many years to the transformative experience of speaking out about it on her own terms at last year's Survivors Speak in Harrisburg, PA. This episode of the Crime Survivors Speak Podcast illuminates the power of taking that brave first step toward using our voices to advocate for ourselves and our communities. 

Jonathon Lewis has spent his career organizing folks from marginalized communities to demand a greater voice in policy making. From working on the Obama campaign in Ohio to advocating for teachers and educational equality in his home state of Texas, Jonathon is now the National Training Director for CSSJ, where he works to provide survivors leaders with the tools to build a new movement of safety, justice, and healing. In this conversation, Jonathon talks about the lessons he's learned in his career as an organizer, what it's like to bring survivors to the capitol to speak with legislators for the first time, and the launch of CSSJ's brand new Leadership Academy, which will provide formal training for survivors who want to take their stories to legislators and the media, and help train other survivors back in their local chapters and communities. For anyone who wants to learn how to build healing through action, this episode is not to be missed.

Priscilla Bordayo is a survivor of sexual abuse and incest who has turned her story of healing into a transformative tool for change. Priscilla was born into a large family that had been shaped by generations of abuse. After becoming a victim of that cycle of harm, Priscilla became the change that broke the cycle. She learned to heal, to forgive, to sit with victims in their darkest moments, and to inspire countless people with her story. Today, Priscilla is a powerful activist and a sought-after motivational speaker whose voice catalyzes change both in her community in Lansing, Michigan and nationwide. As the Michigan CSSJ Statewide Manager, she has been instrumental in creating major policy change with the goal of giving everyone who has experienced harm the chance for redemption and healing. 

Tricia Forbes has been working in the movement for economic, social and racial justice for over 25 years. She has held many leadership positions at policy advocacy organizations across Texas to promote healing over retribution. Tricia is also one of many people who attended her first Survivors Speak event and immediately immersed herself in the movement to lift up survivors. Today Tricia leads CSSJ's Member Support Program, which offers a wide array of resources for healing and wellness, from free virtual therapy to interactive self-care and connections to local community-based resources. These services have the potential to make an enormous difference in the lives of survivors, so if you are a member or thinking about becoming a member, this is a great place to learn about some amazing resources that CSSJ has to offer.

Victim Compensation is one of the few programs designed to provide direct reimbursement for victims of crime and violence, and yet too many victims do not receive support from Victim Compensation and are left to struggle alone after a tragedy. Today’s guest, India Brown, is here to speak about her own difficulties getting the support she needed after experiencing the loss of a loved one to violence, and how she turned that struggle into a mission to help other survivors recover and heal from violence. India recently led efforts to help pass a historic bill in Ohio that made significant changes to the state’s victim compensation program to better support crime survivors. Tune in to listen to her powerful story. 

In the United States, 1 in 3 people will experience domestic violence in their lives, but very few victims receive the support or resources they need to heal. The guests on our podcast today, Kimesha Coleman and Shari Ware, are two leaders who are stepping forward to interrupt cycles of harm and destigmatize the shame of domestic violence by providing much-needed support for victims. In this episode, we talk about the racial disparities that often determine how the justice system responds to victims of domestic violence, the need for funding and programming to be made accessible to under-served communities, and how real accountability can disrupt cycles of abuse and make a massive impact on public safety.

For victims of crime and violence, there are many pathways to recovery. Tune-in to hear a conversation between three crime survivors about how organizing for change offered them opportunities for healing. Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice leaders, David Guizar and Megan Hobson join Aswad to discuss organizing and the model of "healing through action."

Trauma is one of the most devastating impacts for crime survivors and communities in the aftermath of violence. Tune in to hear from two professionals on the frontlines responding to trauma in different parts of the country, using the same innovative model that advances equity, healing, and safety. Leaders of trauma recovery centers – Stephen Massey of CitiLookout in Springfield, Ohio and Dr. Dorit Saberi of Safe Harbor Trauma Recovery Center in Los Angeles, California – discuss the model that has grown nationally, due to survivor-led advocacy.

Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice has a new podcast! This is Crime Survivors Speak, a podcast of conversations with survivor leaders about the public safety solutions we all need. In this introduction, host Aswad Thomas shares his journey to becoming the national director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, the nation's largest network of crime victims organizing for change, and he previews the conversations he'll be having on the podcast about creating healing communities and shaping public policy to better meet the needs of those most harmed and least helped. 

Tune in to Episode 1 to hear Aswad Thomas chat with Lenore Anderson, President of Alliance for Safety and Justice, about the birth of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice in 2013 and the changes that have emerged since. From winning new policies that both shrink incarceration and expand victim support to training new leaders across the country, Aswad and Lenore provide some of the history and background of the new safety movement Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice is now helping to build across the country.