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.