TM Garret Schmid, publicly known as TM Garret, is a German- American author, speaker, and bridge builder focused on de escalation, mentorship, and the practical work of human change.

His work centers on helping communities reduce violence, increase dialogue across difference, and support people who are trying to rebuild their lives after harmful ideologies or high conflict environments.TM works with educators, faith communities, nonprofits, and civic groups to bring people to the same table and promote responsible, nonviolent problem solving.Over the years, he has also provided guidance and support to former extremists and those impacted by extremism, with an emphasis on accountability, reintegration, and prevention.

In addition to public work, TM writes essays and OpEds about ethics, mental health, spirituality, social issues, and how people make meaning in the middle of suffering. If the writings have a read thread, it is this – systems shape people, but people can still choose responsibility, truth, and repair. TM’s background includes a past in extremist ideology, which he left behind in 2002.

Hi past background is not the center nor headline of his life today, but it is part of the context that informs his commitment to prevention, candid accountability, and the belief that change is possible.

In 2017, TM launched the Erasing the Hate campaign with tattoo artists who offered cover ups for hate and gang related tattoos. The campaign built momentum through 2020, then faced an unavoidable setback during COVID, when many shops were in survival mode and free cover up work became difficult to sustain, even though the demand never went away.

Today, TM is rebuilding that network with a focus on long term sustainability and realistic capacity.

TM completed his conversion to Judaism in 2023 and considers Congregation Or Chadash in Memphis his spiritual home, where he attends regularly.He has also completed his memoir, Rewired, which is currently in the final stages of editing.