Georgetown Honors DC Advocate for Terminally Ill Patients Who Are Homeless

In a Jan. 19 ceremony at the Howard Theatre, Georgetown University honored Kowshara Thomas, the leader of a DC nonprofit that serves HIV/AIDS and terminally ill cancer patients experiencing homelessness, with the 2026 John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award.

The Legacy of a Dream Awardidentifies emerging leaders who are working to solve key issues in Washington, DC. Georgetown established the award to deepen its engagement within the city and recognize the award's namesake, John Thompson Jr., the legendary Georgetown head basketball coach, social justice advocate and DC native.

Thomas received the award as part of Georgetown's 22nd Let Freedom Ring Celebration, an annual public event celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King's life and legacy. This year, Georgetown hosted the ceremony at the Howard Theater and featured a musical performance by the rapper Common.

Georgetown Interim President Robert M. Groves and the family of John Thompson Jr. present Kowshara Thomas, executive director of Joseph's House, with the 2026 John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award. Photo by Elman Studio.

"Even though I am the one who is receiving the award, my whole community is receiving this award," Thomas said. "They are a part of me, and I think that gives them a reason to believe in me, a reason to believe in themselves, believe in the system, because of the visibility and the acknowledgement."

Thomas is the executive director of Joseph's House, which provides holistic care for unhoused adults living with HIV/AIDS and terminal cancer. At Joseph's House, clients receive medical services on-site from a team of nurses and support and connections to other DC medical and social services to help them get back on their feet.

"[Joseph's House] is a place where people come and feel like they belong. A place where you feel safe. A place where you can be vulnerable, not just for the community we serve but for staff as well. Where you receive unconditional love and still live your life journey," Thomas said. "If it's working toward independence or end of life, you're not doing it alone."

A Vocation for Service and Health Care

Caring for others has always been a part of Thomas' life.

Growing up, she cared for her grandmother, who dealt with many health issues. In high school, she worked as a certified nursing assistant. After earning her nursing degree, Thomas worked in orthopedic, long-term care and family medicine nursing. When an opportunity to work in hospice in DC opened up, Thomas gave it a try despite her initial doubts about oncology and hospice nursing.

Over time, she developed a passion for community nursing and serving individuals in marginalized populations in their final stages of life.

"People underestimate community nursing," she said. "We're talking about a marginalized community who may not know how to advocate for themselves, may not know what medicines to take, when to take these medications, may not have the money to afford these medications, may not have food, may not have housing. There are so many things that are needed, and you have to meet people where they are."

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Called to Lead

In 2013, Thomas started seeing patients at Joseph's House and took on volunteer shifts so that the full-time nurses could get a break. She loved the work and the community there and wanted to be more involved.

Thomas got her opportunity in 2018 when she joined Joseph's House full-time as the nurse case manager.

About a year later, the outgoing executive director handpicked Thomas to lead the nonprofit. She didn't think she had the skills to lead Joseph's House and turned down the opportunity twice before accepting the role.

But over the last six-and-a-half years, Joseph's House has thrived under her leadership.

Thomas said Joseph's House used to be seen solely as a hospice care facility and was not well-known in the community. Thomas has since worked to rebrand Joseph's House not just as a place for people at the end of their lives, but also for people dealing with diseases to find stability and regain their independence.

"Before, it was just this quiet-kept secret, the house on the corner that a lot of people didn't know about. Now, we get people calling from everywhere," said Crystal Jones, a nurse who works at Joseph's House. "Kowshara's a voice in the forefront of Joseph's House. She can go out and be that voice and that face for Joseph's House and let people know that this is a resource in the city."

As executive director, Thomas shepherded the nonprofit through the COVID-19 pandemic and fostered relationships with more stakeholders to secure funding to advance the organization's mission. In the last few years, Joseph's House has expanded its services for the community it serves to better address the root causes behind a client's homelessness.

"Fundraising is all about storytelling, and because Kowshara always speaks from her heart, she's able to connect with and bring in new people. And it's not just people donating money, people also want to volunteer at Joseph's House after hearing about it from Kowshara," said Bob Wittig, former chair of the board for Joseph's House. "When you spend any amount of time at Joseph's House, it changes you."

A Pillar of Community

On any given day at Joseph's House, the house is buzzing with activity. Volunteers come to whip up breakfast. Clients play cards in the living room or lounge on the front porch. Local community partners stop by for meetings with staff and clients.

"I can hear the laughter in my office. I can hear the jokes, the doorbell ringing. I can smell the food throughout the day," Thomas said. "The days when I am tired, I just get up from my desk and come downstairs, and the house is full. It recharges me."

Every week, residents and staff come together for community meetings, which range from playing board games to giving each other haircuts and bringing in guest speakers. The most important thing is that it's a time to be together, Thomas said.

"Whether you're a staff member, resident or community member, Kowshara makes you feel like family," said Faisal Alshamaa, who previously worked at Joseph's House as a development manager. "Regardless of whether or not you're nice to her or going through a tough time, she sees you as just a human she's connected with. There's no facade. She's just her, and it's a marvel to behold."

It's this community fostered between patients, staff, volunteers and other local stakeholders that is at the heart of Joseph's House.

"Community, you don't find it these days. Half of the neighbors on the street don't know each other. But for us at Joseph's House, it's how our residents thrive," she said. "It gives them a place to go where they know they are going to get the love and support they need and don't have to be alone."

Community is also what keeps many of the clientss from relapsing if they have substance abuse problems, Thomas said. Many clients who used to live at Joseph's House still come back to the nonprofit in Adams Morgan to participate in community life.

Former residents also still receive the same level of care and services as they did when they were living at Joseph's House, Thomas said.

"We never discharge our residents. They just have a different address," she said.

The relationship Thomas built with the DC mayor's office enabled Joseph's House to offer housing vouchers for clients who are ready to get back on their feet.

Destiny Jasper, a client who has struggled with substance abuse, almost turned down the opportunity to receive services at Joseph's House. Thomas convinced her to give it a chance, and Jasper said she felt like Thomas genuinely cared for her.

She lived at Joseph's House for most of 2025. She said she probably would have lost her life were it not for Joseph's House and its community. Now, Jasper looks forward with hope and has recently signed an apartment lease, which Joseph's House helped facilitate.

"[Joseph's House] brought me back. I'm proud of myself today. They helped me lift my self-esteem back up. They gave me my hope back," she said.

Destiny Jasper, a client, signing her new apartment lease before moving out of Joseph's House.

The Future at Joseph's House

Since becoming executive director, Thomas transformed what she called a small "mom-and-pop" nonprofit into a major service provider in DC with more structure and consistency.

One of her proudest accomplishments is connecting Joseph's House to other foundations and building relationships with local government stakeholders.

"She really has been a go-getter," said Japer Bowles, director of the Mayor's Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Affairs. "That's something I want in a government partner, someone who's not just going to provide services but look ahead and tell me what services, programs, events and things need to happen in the future. They're the experts. They're the ones dealing with clients and residents. I want to hear it, and she's been crucial to that."

As part of the organization's three-year strategic plan, Thomas hopes to acquire a new space in DC that can house more clients and support infrastructure like modernized elevators and chair lifts for clients with mobility issues.

She also hopes that a future home for Joseph's House will enable her team to better provide the wraparound support that will keep clients off the streets, sober and healthy.

"If we can address those barriers that brought them to homelessness while we have them in our care, then we can help them remain as independent as possible," she said. "Being a one-stop shop and able to offer that community piece is where I envision us going as Joseph's House."

Let Freedom Ring Celebration

Thomas' accomplishments at Joseph's House were honored as part of the Let Freedom Ring Celebration, an annual event Georgetown hosts to honor Dr. King's legacy.

This year, Georgetown hosted the event at the historic Howard Theatre. Located in the Shaw neighborhood in the heart of DC, the Howard Theatre has been a cultural and entertainment hub in the nation's capital since 1910. Artists like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong have performed there over the years. Tamika Smith, a news anchor for National Public Radio's DC affiliate, hosted the event.

At the ceremony, Thomas received her award from Georgetown Interim President Robert M. Groves.

"Tonight, we're honored to recognize Kowshara Thomas and her work at Joseph's House to ensure dignified and compassionate care for all members of our DC community," Groves said. "She joins, through this award, more than twenty past honorees who, together, have kept the spirit that animated Dr. King and Coach Thompson - an unwavering belief in the promise of our nation - alive and present in our city."

During the celebration, Georgetown also celebrated Nolan Williams, Jr., CEO of NEWorks Productions, for his 23 years of dedication and musical contributions to the Let Freedom Ring Celebration. Williams also premiered the official music video for his new social justice hymn, "Just Like Selma."

The celebration also featured performances from Rayshun LaMarr, Nova Payton and the rapper Common.

"Both of the leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King and Coach Thompson, paved the way for leaders like myself. They helped us realize that it's not just about a dream, but that we have to put in action to achieve the things that we are advocating for," Thomas said. "I never thought in a million years that the work I do would be recognized on this level. It makes me want to show up more and continue to push forward and build a community where all of our residents are happy, healthy and housed."