About Us
Juan's Story
Speaking Engagements
International Tours
Exonerees Talking
Links
Get Involved
En Español
Press/Media
European Trip May 2005
Feedback from Simon Keyes, director St. Ethelburga's Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, London, England. Following Juan Melendez's talk on May 16, 2005.
"Juan's talk was one of the most powerful and moving events we have had here - not just the extraordinary story he had to tell, but the grace and skill with which he told it. There was a real poetry to his talk. I couldn't help but marvel at hearing him speak with such eloquence in the heart of the City of London. He has certainly come a long way from picking fruit in Florida."
************************************************
High-School Feedback
On January 28 th, 2005 , Juan Melendez spoke to a full high-school assembly at Monte del Sol High-School in Santa Fe , New Mexico and a group of approximately 200 students from various classes at Santa Fe High School . Although he has already spoken to over 4,000 school children in New Mexico , this was the first time that we used surveys. The children's responses are invaluable. The children almost universally described the presentations as "excellent." In response to the question " what did you like most about Mr. Melendez's presentation," I have included below some of the answers that were submitted:
"It's the truth! He came here to teach us from his mistakes, it was an amazing presentation." SFH student
"Everything" SFH student
"His enthusiasm and his honesty, he was awesome!" SFH student
"Everything---it was awesome, a great learning and eye opener." SFH student
"Very interesting and uplifting! That's always nice . . ." SFH student
"The whole thing was amazing." SFH student
"I liked the whole thing it was just an amazing story." SFH student
"His forgiving nature even though eighteen years of his life were taken." SFH student
"His intense emotion and the feeling he put into every word and thought and the way he described things." SFH student
"Everything, his passion, his manner, he is a very charismatic and interesting speaker, his story is incredibly impactful, more people need to hear it." SFH student
"He has a way of telling his story that is attention grabbing. His story is told in detail and it portrays the harshness of his life experience. . ." SFH student
"I like how he relates to us. He gives us good advice (i.e., stay in school) and how faith and hope plays a big role." SFH student
"It was extremely touching and made you realize how lucky we are." SFH student
“I learned to always be happy and be very glad to have what I have. Also never disrespect my parents.” SFH student
“Mr. Melendez's realness. I enjoyed his love for life and commend him for his experience. One man's story can teach many souls love and the true beauty of life no matter the situation." SFH student
"His compassion and incredible story telling style." Monte del Sol student
"The whole story was really amazing. I am so glad I had a chance to hear it!" Monte de Sol student
****************************
Other Feedback
In an email dated March 4, 2004 , Professor Marjorie Cohn of the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego stated in part:
“I want to thank . . . Juan for the magnificent program last week at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. The turnout was one of the best we’ve had and everyone raved about Juan’s moving and brilliant presentation. Juan is a living testament to the injustice of capital punishment. His talk is infinitely more effective than anything I could teach my students . . .”]
*****************************************
In a letter dated April 5, 2004 , Dr. Judy Hendry, a professor of communications and journalism at the University of New Mexico wrote:
Dear Mr. Melendez:
Thank you for your wonderful presentation to my Senior Seminar class at the University of New Mexico last Tuesday. It really left an impact on all of us. You were eloquent, honest, and very gracious with answering questions. Your story is one that needs to be heard by everyone and your message of hope is truly an inspiration.
On the following Thursday, I had planned to spend a few minutes discussing your presentation and then go on to regular class business. That was just not to be. The students spent the entire class period talking about what they had learned, how they felt, the problems with the death penalty and with our justice system. I have never seen the class quite this involved , interested, and ready to talk. It was an amazing experience for all of us and one that we will never forget.
Thank you and may God bless you.
Dr. Judith H
************************************************
Ms. Caruso,
. . . I am a law student who came to SMU with very grounded opinions about the death penalty (for, unfortunately). However, throughout my tenure at this school with the help of Prof. Halperin (Pres. of the TX Ch. of the Coalition for the Abolition of the Death Penalty) and other various professors I have come to be adamantly against the death penalty.
I was very much impressed with Mr. Melendez' presentation at our school. Not only is his story heartwrenching in itself, his delivery of it was amazing! He is a very visual speaker, which allowed everyone in his audience to FEEL what was happening to him as he relived it. I cannot imagine that this is very easy for him. I would think that he would want to put the whole ordeal behind him in an attempt to forget and move on. His courage to continuously relive a nightmare for the sake of helping others and fighting for a cause in which he believes is commendable and veryhonorable. I cannot relay with words the indelible impression that hearing Mr. Melendez speak has left with me . . .
Sincerely,
Amanda R
______________________________________________________
RE: Juan Melendez speaking at SMU on April 7, 2005
I am an administrative assistant/manager of the Legal Clinics at SMU. I heard Mr. Melendez speak the other day and wanted him to know I have not attended a better speech here in all my ten plus years in the clinics! Or has one affected me so much as his speech! It was well attended, and he held everyone's attention bringing tears to many and affecting their lives. One student who has always been for the death penalty changed his views that day!!
We hope that Mr. Melendez can return in the future and speak again. I would love to have a tape of this speech to show my kids/grandkids, etc.!!! He was awesome, and I am grateful I had the opportunity to be in his presence and give him my full attention . . .
Linda H
____________________________________________________________________
Hello,
I am a third year student at the University of San Francisco School of Law. I had the opportunity to hear Mr. Melendez speak yesterday, March 8, 2005 . He took one hour to tell his story and every person in the room hung on his every word. By the end of the story several students were in tears.
Even setting aside the political importance of his story, it is worth
listening to because it is simply a good story. The inmates that helped Mr. Melendez learn english did the english speaking world a favor.
It is important to be able to put a human face on the inequities of the administration of the death penalty and Mr. Melendez's story is made even more compelling by touching, amusing, shocking details he wove into it. He is a brilliant speaker and a brilliant story teller. He was honest about his own feelings, impressions and experiences as he made his way through the system. His storyinformed, entertained, moved and outraged the audience,
rather than simply making us feel sorry for him and depressed about the system -although one can't help but feel these things.
It is so important that he share is story with the public because Mr. Melendez is a prime example of how one man's personal story can do more to inform people and move them to support abolishment of the death penalty than all of the cases, newspaper articles and political rallies combined.
I think that his story would make an excellent movie and I will speak to a friend of mine in the industry about it right away. If it hasn't been done already. I would love to help get the story into screen play form . . .
Sincerely,
Morgan A
____________________________________________________________________
hi,
I recently attended Juan Melendez's talk at USF law school. I'm a second year law student and decided to go to law school primariliy to fight capital punishment and spent last summer in mississippi working for the office of capital defense.
Having worked in anti-dp movements from lobbying, to protests, to legal work - I have NEVER been blessed with hearing such an inspirational, moving, heartfelt, and true talk as that given by Juan.
Of course, just the mere facts of his story compel one to work for social change, demand it even. But more than that, is his showing that even those who may be guilty for the crime for which they were condemned are human beings w/ human dignity and human emotions and compassion. He showed the absurdity of murdering them, guilty or not. He showed the power of people, that transcends any legal structure. Most importantly, he gave us hope and optimism -- to overcome ANY obstacle -- because for a man that has faced a nightmare to be positive and willing to give back to a world that has taken so much from him shows that we arerequired to give back as much as we can to help the world and further justice, and we then can then overcome anything.
Thank you!!!!!
Joe Trigilio
_____________________________________________
Feedback from Troubled Youth
In an email dated March 31, 2004 , Gloria Fenster stated:
Juan Melendez came to speak to our youth in Detention and at Spring Mountain Youth Camp, a county correctional facility for boys. He spoke of his experiences in prison and urged the boys to stay in school, not follow along in negative activities just to be one of the group, and to do something good for themselves and for their future.
Over 100 boys at the Camp sat riveted to their chairs for 45 minutes. After the talk, many of them wanted to ask questions of Mr. Melendez. I solicited feedback from the boys later on and the consensus was that they thoroughly enjoyed his talk.
I would highly recommend Mr. Melendez as a speaker to groups of delinquent youths and thank him and Judi Caruso for bringing him to Las Vegas .
Gloria Fenster
Community Relations Coordinator
Clark County Dept. of Juvenile Justice
Las Vegas , NV
Below are some comments from the boys at Spring Mountain Youth Camp :
“I felt that today’s assembly was very touching and inspirational. It helped me realize that people are facing worse situations than mine and they still keep their heads held up high. In my opinion, he is a perfect example of hope and survival ."
“What he was trying to say to us is to do the right thing, listen to your mother and father and love them."
" I really liked the assembly. It was probably the first educational speaker that I ever listened to. I think that I actually learned something from it. I'm not going to put myself in the position to be put in jail for anything when I get out."
" He made me think about my family history and how it's full of gang members, drug dealers and a lot of people who have been to jail. I realize that if I don't change the direction my life is headed in I will end up in jail or dead."
“I learned that you should never take things for granted and enjoy everything about life. I think of it as a chance to see and find out new things while in here and don't take it as just being locked up. This is a time to learn from our mistakes and make better changes."