For Immediate Release: November 21, 2025
What: Suffolk community organizer to be awarded with Honorary Doctorate for humanitarian impact
When: Saturday, November 22 at 5 p.m.
Where: 55 Towne Center Wy, Hampton, VA 23666
Suffolk, VA – On November 22, 2025 at 12 p.m., Suffolk resident and social justice advocate, Tony Jones, will be recognized with an Honorary Doctorate in Humanitarian Leadership from Trinity International University of Ambassadors (TIUA). Mr. Jones currently serves as a lead organizer with Virginia Organizing, where he continues to advance community advocacy and systemic change across the region. Trinity International University of Ambassadors has selected Mr. Jones for this honor to recognize his ongoing leadership and community advocacy.
As a previously incarcerated citizen serving two life sentences for a nonviolent federal drug offense, Mr. Jones has knowledge and experience with the federal legal system that drove his later humanitarian work in his community. During the course of approximately 20 years in custody, totaling more than 175,000 hours, he rigorously studied federal court rules, statutory frameworks, and constitutional procedures. In 2014, he initiated a federal civil action.
Following the filing of his action, federal policymakers accelerated efforts to reevaluate and reform sentencing laws related to crack cocaine offenses. In 2016, Mr. Jones was granted executive clemency by President Barack Obama. His litigation strategy and administrative persistence contributed to a broader national reassessment of federal sentencing practices, ultimately resulting in relief for thousands of individuals similarly situated. Mr. Jones’ case stands as an example of how strategic legal action can influence statutory reform.
It did not stop there. After being released, Mr. Jones saw more work in his community that needed to be done. He started volunteering with the Portsmouth Chapter of Virginia Organizing in 2017. The chapter tackled many issues, like lowering prescription drugs, dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline, combatting predatory lending, and advocating for Medicare expansion.
In 2018, he joined Virginia Organizing as a staff member, organizing the Portsmouth and Suffolk Chapters. One of the main issues impacting the community was the Suffolk bus transit system. By collecting a large number of surveys and speaking with city council members, Suffolk City Council was persuaded to invest $10 million into Suffolk Transit.
After that campaign, in 2020 during the George Floyd protest around the country, the Suffolk Chapter began a campaign to get Suffolk City Council to establish a Citizen Review Board. The chapter met with community leaders and city council members, speaking about the importance of accountability and transparency from the Suffolk Police Department. In 2022, City Council created the Suffolk Public Safety Committee as a result of the Suffolk Chapter’s work.
Now, Mr. Jones is working with Suffolk City Council to advocate for the establishment of a resilience hub and expanded Suffolk Transit bus routes for local residents. He is also facilitating community listening sessions to ensure that residents’ voices are heard and understood, in light of recent federal funding cuts.
In response to the nomination, Mr. Jones stated that he was “truly surprised by this recognition. I did not see it coming.” He emphasized that the achievement reflects a collective effort, noting, “I want to acknowledge the members of the Suffolk and Portsmouth chapters. There is no ‘I’ in ‘we.’ We accomplished this work together.”
To interview Tony Jones, please contact him at tjones@grand-cyan-rabbit.67-208-42-13.cpanel.site.
