Sandra Thomas has been an advocate and social activist for over 50 years. Her commitment to youth, as well as the poor, has been her primary focus.
Her activism in her community has included many innovative programs. Along with nine other individuals from her church, Sandra founded and established Resurrection House, which is a community-based shelter for homeless families. Since its inception, Resurrection House has grown to six houses, one for the shelter and five for transitional housing (13 apartments). She has served as President of the Board of Directors and is currently an active Board member. In addition to her activities with Resurrection House, Sandra is the immediate past President of the Concerned Taxpayers of Wheatley Heights/Dix Hills Civic Association. She is currently the Chair of the Accessory Apartment Review Board for the Town of Babylon. She is currently a member of Suffolk County’s African American Advisory Board. Sandra is the former Co-Chairperson of the Half Hollow Hills school district‘s PTA Council Diversity Committee. Sandra was the originator of the District’s Unity Fair, which continues today. She is currently a member of The Achievement Gap committee for the Half Hollow Hills School District, where her main focus is staff development.
Sandra is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, where she serves on the Delta GEMS Committee and has served on the committee for the Men of the Future Consortium, Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence (EMBODI), working collaboratively with the members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the Links Inc. She is also a charter member of the Eastern Shore Chapter of The LINKS and serves on their Membership Committee and National Trends Facet and Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee. Sandra is an original founding and active member of the Mother’s Club of Wheatley Heights, where she has been the Education Co-Chair for many years. Sandra is a former group leader of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal’s Baptismal Committee. She and her husband Douglas currently serve on the small Christian Community Committee and serve as Eucharistic Ministers. Sandra is also The Chair of the Round Table for the Common Good at her church.
Sandra is a retired Licensed Clinical Social Worker from Eastern Suffolk BOCES. Her activism in her job included creating and developing innovative programs to dispel racism, build esteem, and assist parents with parenting. Many of her ideas and programs have been adopted by other schools within the Eastern Suffolk BOCES region.
In addition, Sandra Thomas has led workshops in parenting skills for SETRC, the Special Education Training and Resource Center. She is a former trainer for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, assisting Correction Officers with identifying and handling mildly developmentally disabled prisoners. Sandra has also served as a graduate field instructor for SUNY at Stony Brook and Fordham University.
She and her husband have three daughters. Sandra has been a political, educational, and socially conscientious voice in the Wheatley Heights community for many years.
Sandra has received numerous awards and recognition from a host of National and Local organizations and State and Local government Officials.