Eddy Paul Thomas has been working at the intersections of mercy ministry, racial reconciliation, human rights, and education for just over two decades. His passion is fueled by his faith and desire to see all of humanity treated with dignity. His commitment to disrupting and dismantling systemic issues that plague people of color, women, and the underserved both domestically and globally has led to the creation of impactful community programs and critical awareness.

 

Eddy Paul Thomas attended Purdue University, where he played point guard for the 1995-96 Men's Big Ten Championship Team. Later he helped coach the Franklin College Women’s Basketball Team to a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship and a birth in the NCAA Tournament. His success experienced on the hardwood fueled his heart for coaching and serving others in his community. From working as a program developer and social worker for organizations that specialized in assisting children with special needs, underserved communities, and later cultivating opportunities to increase funding which improved mental health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness, he gained a wealth of knowledge concerning the systems, protocols, policies, and social contracts that have disproportionately impact people of color.

 

Eddy Paul Thomas gained a broader perspective in his career when he was able to couple his undergrad degree in history and sociology with a master's degree in Organizational Management (specializing in marketing). Gaining insights on the psychology of color, negative imagery, stereotypes, and the lasting impact of the way stories are told further informed his understanding of how centuries of media influence worked to skew the public's knowledge of many topics regarding this nation's Black and Brown citizens. The cogent nature of institutional racism and sexism were further illustrated while working as a professor of cross-cultural communications and engaging in Ph.D. coursework with a focus on community health. This knowledge proved to be the catalyst for a transition from simply working behind the scenes to stepping forward into public advocacy and education on the impact of institutional racism and generational oppression. Since that time, Eddy Paul Thomas has worked with secular, non-profit, and ministry efforts both domestically and globally to reduce the forces that impede progress in these areas.

 

Eddy Paul Thomas is the author of A Broken Seat at the Table: Conversations About Race, Resilience, and Building Bridges and the Thompson Woods Trail Children's Book Series, whose first book “Why can’t I just Have it” debuted #1 on Amazon’s best sellers list. He is also the host of The Rhythm of Faith podcast, the head writer for Conversations from the Middle of the Room: Open Conversations about Race and the Church, has been a guest speaker on racial healing and restorative justice, and is a member of the NAACP as well as the executive team at The National African American Missions Council, also known as "NAAMC."

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Eddy Paul Thomas is the author of the Thompson Woods Trail children’s book series and of the Conversations from the Middle of the Room blog which focuses on open conversations about race and the Church.