Crime Survivors Speak

Domestic Violence and the Lifeline to Justice

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.

Healing through Action & Organizing

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 Recovery Centers

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.

Introducing Crime Survivors Speak

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. 

The Founding of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice

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.