Crime Survivors Speak

Building a Village

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.

The Red Carpet of Equality

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.

Turning Survivors Stories into Policy

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.

Heal the Vote

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.

Creating a New Legacy

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.

Rebounding from Adversity

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.

Surviving the Insurmountable: Recovering From Domestic 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.

Advocacy in Action

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.

The Aswad Interview

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.

Healing and Safety After Domestic Violence

 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.