While it’s nearly impossible to list every time Dion Green appears on a local news segment, sits down for a podcast interview, or shows up at a community event, whether speaking at a vigil or throwing out the first pitch at a Dayton Dragons game, there are a few pieces of media have reached a wider audience and helped share his message beyond the Miami Valley.
Dion Green on Al Jazeera
Dion Green has become a frequent voice in international media discussions on American gun violence. His commentary has been featured on platforms, including Al Jazeera, where he offers a candid critique of how the U.S. addresses its ongoing gun violence epidemic.
When speaking to global audiences, Green consistently highlights several core issues:
The Gap in Trauma Support
Drawing from his own experience—losing his father, Derrick Fudge, in the Oregon District shooting—Green emphasizes the lack of accessible mental health resources and financial support available to survivors. Through the FUDGE Foundation, he works to fill that gap, but he is clear that systemic change is needed.
Critique of Symbolic Solutions Over Real Reform
Green has been critical of what he describes as a commercialized “safety industry”—pointing to products like bulletproof backpacks as examples of profit-driven responses that do little to address the root causes of gun violence. He advocates for more comprehensive vetting, licensing, and mental health background checks, similar to models used in other countries.
Holding Leaders Accountable
His advocacy has taken him from local communities in Ohio to Washington D.C., where he met with President Joe Biden to push for stronger action. While he acknowledges the Safer Communities Act as a step forward, he has been vocal that moderate measures are not enough to address the scale of the crisis.
Green’s international media appearances reflect a commitment to keeping gun violence prevention in the global conversation—and to holding the U.S. accountable for meaningful change.
Dion Green Named a Hometown Hero
In September 2024, Dion Green was recognized as a “Hometown Hero” by Dayton 24/7 Now for his tireless work supporting victims of trauma and gun violence.
The award highlights Green’s commitment to his community in the wake of unimaginable loss. After losing his father, Derrick Fudge, in the 2019 Oregon District mass shooting, Green channeled his grief into action. He founded the FUDGE Foundation to provide trauma support, grief resources, and mentorship to survivors of mass shootings, domestic abuse, and human trafficking.
The recognition reflects what many in Dayton already know: that Green has turned a personal tragedy into a mission that serves others. Through advocacy work, media appearances, and the Foundation’s programs, he continues to push for better resources and systemic change—while staying grounded in the community that raised him.
The “Hometown Hero” honor is a reminder that meaningful change often starts locally, and that resilience, when paired with action, can make a real difference.
Dion Green Named CNN “Champion for Change”
In September 2023, Dion Green was featured as an Anderson Cooper “Champion for Change” on CNN. The segment highlighted gun violence survivors who turned their personal tragedies into advocacy—including Sandy and Lonnie Phillips, who lost their daughter in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting, and Dion, who lost his father, Derrick Fudge, in the 2019 Oregon District mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio.
Rather than being consumed by the trauma of that night, Dion channeled his grief into action. He founded the FUDGE Foundation—Flourishing Under Distress Given Encouragement—to support survivors of mass shootings, domestic abuse, and human trafficking through trauma and grief resources. The Foundation also mentors youth and works to prevent violence before it starts.
Anderson Cooper’s segment underscored the resilience of survivors who refuse to be defined by tragedy. Dion’s story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of unimaginable loss, it’s possible to build something that helps others heal.
The FUDGE Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization.