Atlanta Mother Turns Grief into Advocacy Ahead of National Crime Survivors Conference

ATLANTA, GA – The pain of losing her 15-year-old son could have paralyzed Tiffany Smith. Instead, it became her driving force. Smith, an Atlanta mother whose son Cameron Jackson was fatally shot near Atlantic Station in 2022, has transformed her personal grief into a powerful advocacy movement, and she’s now helping lead one of the country’s largest gatherings of crime survivors.

Mother Who Lost Son to Gun Violence Becomes Leading Voice

Smith’s son, Cameron, was known for being outspoken, family-centered, and deeply connected to his community. Since his death, Smith has launched The Angel Moms Collective, a network of more than 300 mothers across the country who have all lost children to violence.

“Cameron was very outspoken, just a lovable kid,” Smith said. “He was committed to family and community. And so that has me continuing to fight for community and family.”

She believes that healing for mothers is essential for healing communities at large. “I believe the mom is the nucleus of the community. When the mom heals, the whole community heals,” she explained.

Crime Survivors Speak Conference Comes to Atlanta

This week, Smith’s work will be front and center as the Crime Survivors Speak conference comes to Atlanta. The national event is hosted by Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, a network focused on uplifting victims and improving the justice system to prioritize healing over punishment.

The conference begins Friday at 9 a.m. at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, with over 300 crime survivors expected to attend. On-site registration is available for survivors who wish to participate.

Advocating for Policy Change and Support Programs

Smith is not alone in her push for systemic change. Aswad Thomas, National Director of the hosting organization and a survivor of gun violence himself, emphasized how few victims know they are eligible for financial support.

“About 96% of families are unaware of their state’s victim compensation program and don’t access it,” Thomas said. “We’re calling for improvements to the state’s programs to better serve these families.”

Smith is also calling for a federal bereavement policy for parents who have lost children to violence, and increased funding for local healing programs like Angel Moms.

“Grief is so important,” she said. “When the community is dealing with unprocessed grief, then you have anger and more violence.”

Putting Victims First to Break the Cycle of Violence

Both Smith and Thomas agree: public safety policies need to center victims and their recovery, not just punishment of offenders. By doing so, they believe communities can better interrupt cycles of violence and support long-term healing.

If you or someone you know has been affected by violent crime and is seeking healing or advocacy support, you can learn more through local survivor groups and events like Crime Survivors Speak. Visit SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com for more community news and stories of resilience.