Thurston Smith Advocacy Award

For centuries 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, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, 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. 

2025

Terrence D. Walton, MSW, is the Executive Director of NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. For the past decade, Walton has served as the chief operating officer for All Rise (founded as the National Association of Drug Court Professionals), where he led numerous national and international initiatives to develop the addiction treatment workforce and improve the effectiveness of substance use disorder treatment. Previously, Walton was director of treatment for the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia (PSA). During his 15 years at PSA, he directed the units that provide substance use disorder and mental health assessment, treatment, and alternatives to incarceration and conviction. He also previously served as the director of what was then Washington, D.C.’s leading adolescent outpatient substance use disorder treatment center, Sasha Bruce Youthworks’ Necessary Interventions for Adolescents (NIA).

Walton has directed prevention and addiction-focused programs in Ohio, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C., and has assisted such programs nationwide. He collaborates with community organizations, non-profits, business leaders, and U.S. government agencies to promote healthy, thriving, recovery-oriented communities. In addition to his work domestically, Walton has provided addiction-focused expertise to governments, non-government organizations, and addiction-focused professionals in Vietnam, Colombia, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Bolivia, Barbados, Guam, Mexico, Bermuda, and elsewhere across the globe.

Walton holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Wright State University and a Master of Social Work degree with specializations in program administration and substance use disorder from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. He is an active member of the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) with a focus on developing the global addiction and prevention workforce. He was a certified drug and alcohol counselor for more than twenty years and has devoted his entire professional life to helping individuals, families, and communities impacted by addiction experience lasting healing, health, and happiness.

In a message Walton wrote: the Association for Addiction Professionals reaffirms our unwavering commitment to merit-based equal opportunities, culturally responsive and sensitive counseling interventions, equitable access to effective treatment, and a qualified, committed, and diverse behavioral health workforce. NAADAC will continue to devote our resources to equip, empower, and unite those of us who battle against all odds to adequately serve minority, stigmatized, and otherwise marginalized people and communities. Addiction professionals have long recognized our solemn obligation to promote and protect client well-being, embrace diversity, oppose discrimination, remove barriers to care, and advocate for the greater good. These principles and values are enshrined in our mission statements, outlined in our scopes of practice, and mandated in our codes of ethics.

Kathy FitzJefferies, LCSW, LCAS, CCS has over forty-three years of experience as a Clinical Addiction Social Worker. The past twenty-five years Kathy became painfully aware of the harm caused by her white privilege. She began her journey of cultural humility that steered her to become an advocate, activist, and co-conspirator for Racial Justice. Kathy has been involved in numerous organizations dedicated to dismantling racism. Currently, she a member of NAADAC’s Critical Issues in the Black Community Committee and Co-leader of the Southeastern Jurisdiction United Women of Faith Racial Justice Charter Support Team. Kathy was bestowed the President’s MLK Drum Major for Service Award for her Racial Justice work. Kathy is presently a Clinical Supervisor and Educator with Practical Applications. She is a person in long-term recovery.

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.