Championing the Voices of the Victimized

In this episode, we’re joined by Aswad, Vice President of ASJ, who shares his compelling journey from being a promising basketball player to becoming a leading advocate for justice reform. On August 24, 2009, at just 26 years old, Aswad was preparing to embark on a professional basketball career in Europe when his life was tragically altered by a near-fatal shooting. Despite this life-changing event, Aswad turned his personal tragedy into a mission to empower communities, particularly young men of color, and to advocate for smart justice reform.

Aswad's work with ASJ focuses on expanding a national network of crime survivors and elevating their voices in state and federal policy debates. With a Master of Social Work from the University of Connecticut and a B.A. in Business Management from Elms College, Aswad has become one of the most influential voices in the fight against gun violence and justice reform.

His story has been highlighted in various prominent media outlets, including the New Yorker, NPR, Sacramento Bee, VICE/The Marshall Project, and the Hartford Courant, among others. Before joining ASJ, Aswad was a key figure in Connecticut's justice reform movement, founding Hartford Action to improve the relationship between the Greater Hartford community and the justice system.