Thurston Smith Advocacy Award

Thurston S. Smith Advocate Of The Year

 For centuries African American leaders have risen to advocate for the liberation of Black people, including: Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth; Harriett Tubman, W.E.B. Dubois, Booker T. Washington; Ida B. Wells; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Angela Davis, Congressman John Lewis and thousands of less known advocates.

African Americans with substance use disorders have also required advocates. Historically, addiction among African Americans is more likely to be criminalized and disproportionately child welfare agencies are more likely to remove children from the homes of Black families when a parent has a substance use disorder. African Americans motivated to receive substance use disorders treatment today face many disparities and barriers making it difficult to access treatment. Numerous advocates have stepped up to address the criminalization of addiction and disparities African Americans with substance use disorders face. The purpose of the Annual Thurston S. Smith, Advocate of The Year Award is to honor such advocates. The first recipient is Thurston S. Smith, for whom the award has been named. 

2024

Thurston Smith, MPA, LAC/S, CCS, CAADAC, VHA-CM is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Sociology at Graceland University, and surveyor for CARF International, providing accreditation services to health and human service agencies across the United States and abroad. A civic leader possessing a broad range of expertise in the areas of public policy, behavioral healthcare, professional training, and organizational leadership, Thurston has a distinguished service history replete with numerous public service appointments.

With an over 25-year service history on the municipal, county, state, and federal levels, Thurston is a retiree from the U.S. Veterans’ Health Administration, where he has served in a variety of leadership roles throughout his civil service career.  He’s an ordained minister, licensed clinical practitioner, and clinical supervisor, holding advanced credentialing in counseling and civic leadership and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Capella University’s School of Public Service Leadership.

 A tireless advocate for improving access to services in marginalized communities, Thurston is a founding member of the NAADAC Critical Issues in the Black Community Committee. His contributions to the behavioral healthcare industry also includes his gubernatorial appointment as the South Carolina Liaison to the Southeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center (SEATTC) at Morehouse School of Medicine, his service as advisor and subject-matter expert for the Center of African American Recovery Development (CAARD) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and his 2022 appointment as chairman of the Shelby County Mayor’s Healthcare Access Committee.  Thurston has most recently been a guest lecturer at a number of universities, speaking on the subject of "Improving Access to Care Within Communities of Color."

Thurston has provided oral testimony before the Tennessee Legislative Black Caucus on matters pertaining juvenile justice reform and the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute on criminal justice reform. He was also selected to serve as a Project Team Member for the Provincial Government of Western Cape, in their strategic redress of substance abuse in Cape Town, South Africa.

Commensurate with his strong commitment to public advocacy, through joint proclamation, Thurston has been honored by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, Shelby County Mayor, Tennessee House of Representatives, Tennessee Senate, and Tennessee Governor, for outstanding public service. Upon fulfilling a three-year Federal Advisory Committee appointment with the U.S. Treasury Department, he received the 2020 Presidential Volunteer Service Award, and in January 2021, was tapped by the Biden/Harris Presidential Transition Team to host a pre-Presidential Inauguration National Day of Service program commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Furthering his professional and theological commitment to a just and equitable society for all, Thurston is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Community Witness and Social Justice, at Memphis Theological Seminary.