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Aswad Thomas: Crime Survivor, Advocate, Author

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Early Life and Education

Aswad grew up in Hartford, CT and Highland Park, MI.[1] In 1993, at the age of ten years old his best friend Reuben was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in 1993.[2] Despite losing many friends to gun violence, Aswad would make it out of his neighborhood and become the first male in his family to graduate from college where he earned his undergraduate degree at Elms College in Chicopee, MA and a Masters Degree in Social Work at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work.[3]

Gun Violence Incident

On August 24, 2009, just three weeks away from going overseas to play professional basketball, Aswad's life changed dramatically when he became a victim of gun violence. The severe injuries from the shooting ended his basketball career and nearly his life.[4] Two years after the shooting he learned that one of the teengers that shot him was also a victim of gun violence and that the same doctor that saved Aswad's life save that teenager's life too. Aswad eventually forgave the teenager for being involved in his shooting and started his passion for advocating on behalf of other survivors.[5]

Career

Aswad Thomas is a Vice President of the Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) and the National Director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice (CSSJ), a national network of crime survivors dedicated to creating healing communities and advocating for policies that reduce violence and support victims.[6] Aswad has been instrumental in expanding the organization’s reach and influence, particularly in communities most harmed by violence and is known for his work in advocating for the establishment of Trauma Recovery Centers (TRCs) across the United States. These centers provide comprehensive support to victims of crime, helping them navigate the aftermath of violence and begin the process of healing.[7] In September 2024, Thomas is organizing the first-ever Crime Survivors Speak March on Washington, D.C. The event is expected to bring together thousands of crime survivors from across the country to advocate for a "Right to Heal" and call for a reimagined approach to public safety that prioritizes the needs of victims.[8]

Media Appearances

Aswad Thomas has been featured in numerous media articles and television interviews, where he discusses his experience as a victim of gun violence and his ongoing work to support other survivors. His advocacy efforts have been recognized nationally and he continues to be a leading voice in the movement to end gun violence and support crime survivors.[9] Aswad story has been featured in the New York Times[10], Time Magazine[11], The Hill[12], New Yorker Magazine[13], NBC LX[14], Huff Post[15], Chicago Tribune[16], Yahoo News[17], The Root[18], Detroit Free Press[19], Hartford Courant[20], and dozens of other media outlets.

Children’s Book: "The Stars Represent You and Me"

In addition to his advocacy work, Aswad Thomas is also an author. He wrote a children’s book titled "The Stars Represent You and Me," which aims to inspire young readers and convey messages of hope, resilience, and the power of community.[21] The book reflects Thomas’s commitment to empowering the next generation and helping them understand that they are not alone in their struggles.

Upcoming Memoir: "Healing Through Adversity: A Journey Through Basketball, Violence, and Forgiveness"

Aswad Thomas is set to release his memoir titled "Healing Through Adversity: A Journey Through Basketball, Violence, and Forgiveness" in 2025. The memoir will chronicle his personal journey through the challenges of life as a promising basketball player whose career was derailed by gun violence. It will explore themes of adversity, resilience, and the power of forgiveness, offering readers an intimate look into his experiences and the lessons learned along the way.[22]

Awards and Recognitions

He was named one of The Root's 100 most influential African Americans of 2021.[23] Aswad Thomas received the 2024 Crime Survivor Voices Award from the Office for Victims of Crime, which recognized his contributions to victim advocacy and tireless efforts to support crime survivors.[24]

  1. ^ admin (2018-09-25). "Victim to Educator: Aswad Thomas Shares His Story – Trinity Tripod". Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  2. ^ Thomas, Aswad. "Thousands of kids experienced, saw gun violence last year. How are we dealing with trauma?". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  3. ^ "About Aswad". Aswad & Jonnell Foundation. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  4. ^ By (2010-09-25). "On Hartford Streets, A Life Nearly Derailed By Bullets". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  5. ^ Thomas, Aswad (2016-12-15). "How I Came to Terms with the Man Who Shot Me". The Marshall Project. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  6. ^ "NATION'S LARGEST CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ORGANIZATION MAKES HISTORY – Alliance for Safety and Justice". 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  7. ^ Davis, Matt (2023-11-03). "Elevating Crime Victims' Voices in Safety and Well-Being Investment". Safety and Justice Challenge. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  8. ^ "Philadelphia gun violence: Activists, survivors, challenge city leaders to create safer neighborhoods". FOX 29 Philadelphia. 2024-07-28. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  9. ^ "Aswad Thomas on Expanding Resources for Survivors of Crime and Promoting Public Safety | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  10. ^ Astor, Maggie (2022-09-01). "Nonprofit Aims to Persuade 100,000 Crime Survivors to Vote". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  11. ^ Mansoor, Sanya (2020-09-09). "U.S. Crime Victims Often Don't Get the Government Money Meant to Help Them Heal—and Say They Feel 'Excluded'". TIME. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  12. ^ Srikanth, Anagha (2020-10-28). "Crime survivors unite to #HealTheVote ahead of the upcoming election". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  13. ^ Stillman, Sarah (2015-10-15). "Black Wounds Matter". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  14. ^ "How Crime Survivors Are Joining Forces to Push for Criminal Justice Reforms and Victim Services". NBC LX Home. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  15. ^ "What We Need To Curb Violence In The U.S. (And It Isn't More Prisons And Policing)". HuffPost. 2020-08-24. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  16. ^ "Families of crime victims head to Springfield to plead for more support and alternatives to traditional law-and-order methods". Chicago Tribune. 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  17. ^ "Community activist looks to bring trauma recovery centers to DMV". Yahoo News. 2024-08-04. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  18. ^ "A Shooting Ended Aswad Thomas' Basketball Career, And Then This Happened". The Root. 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  19. ^ Jackson, Angie. "Gov. Whitmer signs bills expanding criminal record expungement in Michigan". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  20. ^ Courant, Hartford (2015-10-03). "Hartford Shooting Survivor Stands Against The Violence". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  21. ^ Coppola, Rich (June 18, 2021). "'Don't judge a book by its cover': Hartford local Aswad Thomas pens story on surviving gun violence". WTNH News. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  22. ^ "Healing Through Adversity". Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  23. ^ "Aswad Thomas - The Root 100 - 2021". The Root. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  24. ^ "Aswad Thomas | Survivor Voices Award". Office for Victims of Crime. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
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