Thomas Anderson

Thomas Anderson

Manumission House

Panelist, Reentry In Action: Legislation, Representation and Community Collaboration

Thomas Anderson’s life reflects the transformative power of education and resilience. Born in 1968 and shaped by both strong moral guidance and the pull of the streets, his path took a pivotal turn in 1997 when he received a life sentence. During more than two decades of incarceration, he committed himself to personal growth and education. Since his release in 2019, Thomas has earned a Business Administration degree from the University of Baltimore’s Second Chance program and is currently pursuing a master’s in Nonprofit Management.

Thomas is the founder and Executive Director of Manumission House, a Baltimore-based initiative currently in development that will provide housing and wraparound support for justice-impacted individuals pursuing higher education. He also serves as a consultant with St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center, supporting housing and reentry-focused initiatives.

A committed advocate for systemic change, Thomas is a core volunteer with BUILD’s Criminal Justice Team and has been actively engaged in legislative advocacy in Annapolis. His work includes supporting the successful passage of HB1077 (repeal of parole supervision fees) and advocacy during the 2026 session for HB1311 and HB1313 (expanding access to higher education for incarcerated individuals), as well as HB1073/SB937, advancing policies that strengthen reentry and educational opportunity.

Thomas has been recognized in national publications and invited to speak at institutions such as Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute. His journey fuels his mission: to expand access to education, remove barriers to reentry, and create pathways for others to succeed.