Darris Thomas

Background

About Darris Thomas

As an Overdose Prevention Coordinator at the Public Health Institute (PHI), I have been providing naloxone training and distribution to community members and organizations that serve people at risk of opioid overdose for seven months. I have trained and equipped over 140 people with lifesaving Narcan kits in two counties, and distributed hundreds of harm reduction supplies, such as fentanyl and xylazine test strips, to unhoused persons and community-based agencies. Prior to joining PHI, I served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Center for Employment Opportunities, the largest reentry employment provider nationwide. There, I developed and implemented strategies for resource development, partnership cultivation, and program improvement and innovation to support formerly incarcerated individuals in securing sustainable employment and holistic social support in Oakland, California. I also created and maintained two online resource centers for participants residing in Alameda County and Contra Costa County. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science-International Relations with a Minor in Applied Computing from Benedict College, where I was a Dean's List honoree and a President of the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society. I also completed the Charles Hamilton Houston Pre-Law Institute at Georgetown University Law Center, where I gained valuable insights and skills for pursuing a career in law and social justice. I am passionate about advocating for justice-impacted Black and Hispanic communities, educational equity, and public health.