About the Program

Lesléa Newman was the keynote speaker for Gay Awareness Week at the University of Wyoming the year Matt was killed, and arrived on campus on October 12, 1998, the day that he died. She made a promise to his friends and teachers that she would do all she could to keep Matt’s name and legacy alive. To that end, she wrote October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard, a book-length poetry cycle that explores the impact of Matt’s murder by speaking in the fictitious voices of the silent witnesses to the crime: the fence he was tied to, the stars that watched over him, the deer that kept him company all through the night.

After speaking about her connection to Matthew Shepard, and reading an excerpt from her book with accompanying photographs, Lesléa Newman leads the audience in a guided visualization that helps each participant come up with a concrete task they commit to, such as writing a letter about LGBT rights to their school newspaper, joining the school’s Gay Straight Alliance, or challenging their peers to stop using offensive homophobic language. A powerful speaker, Lesléa Newman continues to make a difference, and help others do so as well.

About Lesléa Newman
Lesléa Newman is the author of 64 books including A Letter to Harvey Milk, Nobody’s Mother, Hachiko Waits, Write from the Heart, The Boy Who Cried Fabulous, The Best Cat in the World, and Heather Has Two Mommies. As the keynote speaker for Gay Awareness Week at the University of Wyoming in 1998, Lesléa Newman arrived on campus shortly after Matt was attacked, and saw firsthand the profound effect hate can have on a person, a community, a state, and a nation. She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and three Pushcart Prize Nominations. Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists. She is a faculty member of Spalding University’s brief-residency MFA in Writing program.

Endorsements

“I am not sure I can adequately express the impact Lesléa Newman’s presentations had on our entire student body at Northhampton High School. Both Students and faculty were powerfully affected by your poems, your story and your call to make a difference in the world.”
— Jon Sass, Teacher & GSA Advisor, Northhampton High School, Northhampton, MA

“As a teacher of high school students, I am struck by both their potential to be silent in the face of injustice and also the be the most powerful change agents. Often, it takes a radical experience to turn quiet observers into actors. Leslea’s talk focusing on the beautiful life and tragic death of Matthew Shepard, was an example of such a moment.”
— Sara Barber-Just, Teacher, Amherst Regional High School, Amherst, MA

Booking Information

To inquire about availability and pricing of “He Continues to Make a Difference: The Story of Matthew Shepard,” contact the Programs Department of the Matthew Shepard Foundation at:

Booking@MatthewShepard.org or by calling 303.830.7400 ext. 15

The Fence

I held him all night long
He was heavy as a broken heart
Tears fell from his unblinking eyes
He was dead weight yet he kept breathing

He was heavy as a broken heart
His own heart wouldn’t stop beating
He was dead weight yet he kept breathing
His face streaked with moonlight and blood

His own heart wouldn’t stop beating
The cold wind wouldn’t stop blowing
His face streaked with moonlight and blood
I tightened my grip and held on

The cold wind wouldn’t stop blowing
We were out on the prairie alone
I tightened my grip and held on
I saw what was done to this child

We were out on the prairie alone
Their truck was the last thing he saw
I saw what was done to this child
I cradled him just like a mother

Their truck was the last thing he saw
Tears fell from his unblinking eyes
I cradled him just like a mother
I held him all night long

© Lesléa Newman

For more information about OCTOBER MOURNING: A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD including links to the book trailer and a teacher’s guide, visit: http://www.lesleakids.com/octobermourning.html

For more information about pricing and speaker availability please provide as much information as possible.

About the Program
The play The Laramie Project was created by Tectonic Theatre Company in the aftermath of Matthew Shepard’s 1998 murder. It powerfully chronicles one city’s reaction to a notorious anti-gay hate crime and is one the most performed plays in America.  Our Laramie Project Specialist, Susan Burk, is a former Wyoming broadcast journalist with professional theatre training and experience. She has strong ties to Matt’s story, as well the play and its epilogue, The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later.

Ms. Burk assists professional companies, colleges and universities, high schools, community theatres, and religious groups with services including media resources, historical background and context, and creative consultation, and is helping educators build school curriculums. She has worked with productions all across the United States, as well as Canada, Australia, France, and the United Kingdom. Ms. Burk works in collaboration with the shows’ creators, Tectonic Theater Project, and travels to different communities to lead post-show discussions, teach, and serve as a panelist for related community-wide discussions on how to create a more civil, compassionate, and just world.

About Susan Burk
Susan Cunningham Burk has strong backgrounds in theatre, journalism and Matthew’s story. At the time of Matthew Shepard’s murder, his funeral, and the trials of his killers, Ms. Burk was the Executive Producer/Senior Anchor for the evening news at KTWO Television. Based in Casper, KTWO-TV was the statewide NBC affiliate, and it was Ms. Burk’s primary responsibility to arrange and implement coverage for all of these events, including community reaction and response. She produced an award-winning news series on the filming of HBO’s production of The Laramie Project and appeared in the film; performed The Laramie Project with the theatre group in which Matt acted as a child; and was part of one of the acting companies that participated in the international webcast premiere of The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later.

Ms. Burk attended the Goodman School of Drama and worked as a professional actress in various venues before moving to Casper with her husband and starting a new career in journalism. She joined the Matthew Shepard Foundation staff in 2011, and continues to expand and enhance her program to include broader topics and further educational resources that highlight how Matt’s story remains relevant to America and the world today. Ms. Burk also remains active in local theatre productions.

Endorsements
“Her character, her professionalism, and how well she did supporting our production, and forwarding the mission of the Matthew Shepard Foundation were all beyond reproach… Because of her visit, we experienced a dramatic increase in community awareness and thus ticket sales. Not only did we spread the ultimate message of ending hate and generating continued awareness of Matthew’s story, but we have created more community awareness for our own organization and all that we offer. As you move forward with your mission, I can think of no better person to represent you, Judy, Dennis, and the Foundation. She is a remarkable woman who possesses a tremendous work ethic, and a deep passion for this cause. Simply stated, she is a light that shines brightly for all that Matthew believed.”
— Director Timothy Wyman, Corn Stock Theatre, Peoria, IL.

Booking Information

To inquire about Laramie Project production support, or to inquire about the availability and pricing of Laramie Project post-show discussions, contact the Programs Department of the Matthew Shepard Foundation at:

Booking@MatthewShepard.org or by calling 303.830.7400 ext. 17

Greg Miraglia is the author of “Coming Out From Behind The Badge” and “American Heroes Coming Out From Behind The Badge,” and serves as Vice President of the Matthew Shepard Foundation Board of Directors. Mr. Miraglia has 27 years of law enforcement experience including 7 years as deputy chief of the Napa Valley Railroad Police Department. He speaks to law enforcement professionals about dignity for victims and their families in the wake of hate crimes and the importance of share diversity in police departments. Greg also speaks about hate crimes and bias incident prevention. He also designed and now instructs the only state certified online Hate Crimes Investigations course in California.

Mr. Miraglia is also the host of Outbeat Youth Radio where he provides information for and about the queer youth. The show provides an outlet for queer youth who are often left in the shadows of their straight peers and never get the recognition they deserve. His goal is to share the stories of young LGBT people who are doing amazing things at their schools and communities with the greater community.

Greg Miraglia is the Dean of Career and Technical Education at Napa Valley College. He served as the director of the Napa Valley Criminal Justice Training Center Police

Academy for ten years and is National Program Coordinator for the Stop the Hate Program. He has a Master of Arts Degree in Education from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from Empire State College. He has been active with the Matthew Shepard Foundation since 2001.

Speaking from a mother’s perspective, Judy Shepard has made the prevention of hate crimes and the acceptance of diversity the focus of her efforts, and urges her audiences to make their schools and communities safe for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, race, sex, religion, or gender identity and/or expression.

Over the last decade and a half, Judy has spoken at numerous schools, companies and community groups. From the United Nations to Walmart, from the University of Notre Dame to the University of San Francisco, Judy’s message of acceptance is able to move hearts and minds of every audience she addresses. Time and time again, Judy has made a positive impact in the lives of the people she meets.

About Judy
Judy Shepard authored the New York Times best-selling book, The Meaning of Matthew: My Son’s Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed, a moving, intimate look at how her life, and the entire fight for equal rights, changed when her son was killed.

Additionally, Judy Shepard has appeared in two Human Rights Campaign advertisements urging an end to anti-gay violence and promoting a greater understanding of gay issues. Judy spent over a decade tirelessly campaigning for the passage of an LGBT-inclusive federal hate crimes law, which finally was signed in 2009. She continues to use her voice to advocate for acceptance of human diversity and dignity, and serves as president of the board of directors of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

Endorsements
“[Judy] was a lovely lady to meet and spoke so eloquently about her tragic loss and gay rights. Her humor and humility set a hopeful tone to such an important topic.”
— SUNY Fredonia

“Judy’s strength lies in her personal story that she tells so quietly and effectively, without malice or anger. We were blessed to have her and she touched many hearts with her story.”
— Frito Lay, Inc.

“Many students were listening to her victim statement and wiping tears away. As she spoke, the audience was mesmerized and she received a standing ovation!”
— Hofstra University

“I think you are a wonderful speaker and your soft-spoken, truthful and down-to-earth manner is something people need to see more.”
—   Becca S. from Drew University

“It really meant a lot to us that you could address [us] about Matthew, the incident, and hate-crimes legislation. We know that your input will help our [History Day] project tremendously.”
— Emma J., Wilson Wyoming

Booking Information

To inquire about availability and pricing of “The Legacy of Matthew Shepard,” contact Randy Ehman with Keppler Speakers at:
rehman@kepplerspeakers.com or by calling 703.516.4000

Or contact the Programs Department of the Matthew Shepard Foundation at:
Booking@MatthewShepard.org or by calling 303.830.7400 ext. 15

For information on booking Judy to speak, please contact Keppler Associates.