Hi Survivor,

Spring reminds us that growth, renewal, and transformation are always possible — not only in nature but in our lives, our communities, and in this movement for healing and justice.  

As we step into April, a month that also recognizes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we honor the voices, strength, and leadership of survivors who turn pain into purpose daily. This is a time to reflect on how far we’ve come together — building community, lifting up stories, and driving real change that puts healing at the center of safety.  

This month, we’ll share opportunities to connect, advocate, and support one another. Whether it's showing up for an event, sharing your story, or simply checking in with a fellow member — every action matters.  

Thank you for being part of this growing community of hope and action. Together, we are building a future where all survivors are seen, heard, and supported.  

In solidarity, 

Jonathon Lewis 

Managing Director 

Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice

Over the past three weeks, Aswad Thomas had the honor of traveling across the country—flying and driving from city to city—to host powerful community events focused on increasing awareness and access to victim compensation. From Montgomery and Birmingham (AL) to Austin and Dallas (TX), and from Cincinnati and Cleveland (OH) to East St. Louis (IL), survivors, advocates, community leaders, and community-based organizations came together to share their experiences with their state’s victim compensation program and learn more about how to apply for the program. 

These events were part of our national Right to Heal: Access to Victims Compensation Campaign. Along this journey, we’ve sat in spaces with survivors who have endured unimaginable pain and are still struggling to access the very support systems meant to help them heal.

Here are some of the powerful insights and learnings we’ve heard:

• Lack of Awareness: Many survivors still do not know that victim compensation even exists or how to apply for it.
• Barriers to Access: Survivors continue to face steep challenges—from long, complicated applications to being denied for reasons such as not cooperating with law enforcement or being told a victim contributed to their own victimization.
• Stories of Hope: Despite these barriers, we also heard incredible stories of persistence and resilience. Some families successfully accessed compensation and were able to use that support to cover burial costs, counseling, mileage reimbursement, or lost wages.

These events were also deeply personal. In East St. Louis, Aswad was surprised and humbled to be honored with a proclamation from the Mayor’s Office, recognizing his work with survivors across the country and CSSJ’s long-standing commitment to East St. Louis.

Check out this media coverage of the event:  

• Montgomery, AL: https://www.alreporter.com/2025/04/14/advocates-violent-crime-victims-spread-awareness-for-victim-compensation/ 
• Austin, TX: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/more-people-need-to-be-aware-of-it-crime-survivors-spread-awareness-about-compensation-program/ 
• Cincinnati, OH: https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/finding-solutions/victims-compensation-advocates-encourage-victims-of-violent-crimes-to-apply-for-state-financial-aid 
• East ST. Louis: https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article304105246.html 

We also proudly hosted the successful National Access to Victim Compensation Kickoff Webinar, where we officially launched our campaign. During the webinar, we heard deeply moving and powerful reflections from survivor leaders and advocates who have worked alongside CSSJ to successfully pass victim compensation laws in states like Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, California, and Alabama where survivors and advocates helped to reduce the application from 15 pages to 4. Their stories not only highlighted the urgent need for change but also served as proof of what’s possible when survivors organize and lead. We also introduced our new campaign website, which offers resources, upcoming event details, and direct actions people can take to get involved—whether by sharing their story, joining an event, or completing the victim compensation survey. 

To learn more about the campaign and how you can take various actions: https://asj.allianceforsafetyandjustice.org/right-to-heal/ 

We are now preparing for our next stop on this tour in Chicago, IL. 

This movement is growing—and it’s powered by the voices and leadership of survivors from communities most impacted by violence. We want to send a special thank you to all of our CSSJ volunteers, partner organizations, and CSSJ chapter coordinators for coordinating and hosting these events. Together, we’re turning pain into power because when survivors speak change happens. 

During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice (CSSJ) local chapters and community partners came together to host over 30 healing vigils across the country. These powerful gatherings created space for survivors, families, and allies to honor the lives impacted by violence, uplift healing, and call for change.Thank you to every member and partner who helped lead these moments of remembrance and resilience. Together, we continue to build communities rooted in healing, safety, and justice.

Did you know that CSSJ offers the following activities and resources to support members on their healing journeys, including free counseling through BetterHelp?

Sign up here: https://linktr.ee/cssjmsp

The Crime Survivors Speak Podcast shares the stories of survivor leaders transforming our nation’s safety and justice systems. Join visionary survivor leader Aswad Thomas as he shares the mic with everyday people impacted by crime that are moving from healing to action and winning real change for communities across the country. Listen to episodes at https://cssj.org/podcast.

If you're interested in being a guest, please complete this PODCAST GUEST QUESTIONNAIRE. Submission doesn’t guarantee you will be selected to be a guest on the podcast.