Testimonials
Jim has a very special energy. On a number of occasions I had the opportunity to see him interact with his children and was struck by his evident tenderness and respectful consideration of their needs. He is an amazing father. He is remarkably thoughtful and kind and carries this same sensibility into everything he does.
A. Diesvelt, B.F.A., B.Ed.
He (Jim) has the capacity to listen and elicit self reflection with a remarkable blend of empathy and gentle confrontation.
J. Lochrie, B.A.
Jim is the most remarkable person I have ever met. He has overcome insurmountable difficultities to be become a caring and giving man. I feel honored to call him my friend.
A.F. Mackintosh, B.Sc. B.A.
April 3, 2009 Jim Mandelin, I am writing to say thank you for taking the time to visit my Psychological Explanations course and sharing your life story. Although, I have had a fairly stable upbringing, you inspired me. I learnt more from your story than I have studying Psychology and Criminology for two and a half years! Your ability to explain why and how you did what you did was more telling than anything I have ever seen. I am proud of you, and thankful for your will to make this world a better place. I realized something that week you came in. I realized that myself, along with others often feel sorry (which we should) for the children who are being abused, mentally and physically, but as those children grow up our sympathy begins to dwindle. Yet, it is often in adolescence that the same children who were abused at a young age need structure and support more than ever to make sense of their confusing past (although clearly there is often no end). Unfortunately, as a society we question their behaviour and choose to label them, destroying any lingering self- confidence. With the help from people such as your self, it allows others to understand the importance of positive gestures toward others. I wish you were one of the guest speakers who came to my high school as I believe that many lives would be different today. In fact, because of my positive experience I have emailed my high school – where I graduated from and strongly suggested you as a guest speaker. You are an inspiration to all kinds of people and your love for others shines through when engaged with others. I have shared your story, and will continue to share your story as it accomplishes more than just a shock factor; it helps people, all kinds of people. Thank you once again, your story is one that I will carry with me throughout my studies and into my life in general. Sincerely, Zena Rossouw, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, BCLetters of Reference:
Carson Graham Secondary School
Burnaby North Secondary School
"Student Letter 2009"FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2010 How to make a criminal Today I listened to a man talk about what makes a criminal. A former gang member, he spent thirty three years trying to figure out what made him become a person who didn't merely survive violence but thrive in it. I listened to him talk about his almost non-existant childhood and the incessant beatings and abuse he had to endure. By the time he was fifteen, he was on the streets selling drugs. At seventeen, he was in jail and was apart of a gang of bikers. What changes a man who has known nothing but hate, torment, and ridicule all his life? Four acts of kindness that were embedded somewhere in his memory. I was empowered by his speech. I realized that everything we do or say has an effect on everyone that lives around us. Even a single comment has the power to either push someone over the edge or bring someone back to life. The minute a child knows pain or anger, they lose their innocence. Evil, after all, is not innate in man; it is a product of experience. Children live by example: they watch you, study you, learn from you and eventually, they imitate your actions and words. Your childhood and the environment you lived in shouldn't determine your future, but it does. The root of every decision, every mistake, every action originates in your childhood. We remember every tear we've shed. We remember the first time we felt hatred. We remember the moment in which we realised that there is no way of escaping our pasts. We remember. Every one of us has the power to change our society for the better: with a smile or a kind gesture. The good always has a way of overpowering the bad even though it may be greater in immensity. Jim Mandelin didn't have to change, but he did. His memories of his teacher helping him when no one else would and of the one child who stood up for him while he was being bullied forced him to become a person he could be proud of. Those actions- no matter how insignificant they may have seemed at the time- gave him hope and allowed him to believe he could change. We should not live our lives in vain; instead, we should give people reasons to believe they are better than their pasts. Natalie Anthonisz
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" Client Letter 2009" Erika Morgan Workshop Coordinator Aunt Leah’s Independent Life skills Society 200-668 Carnarvon Street New Westminster, BC V3M 5Y6 604-240-9580 July 16, 2009 Mr. Tim Veresh Executive Director The John Howard Society 752 Kingsway Street Vancouver, BC V5V 3C1 Dear Mr. Veresh: My name is Erika Morgan, the Workshop Coordinator for Aunt Leah's Independent Life skills Society. We work with youth under the age of 19 who are in government care, providing them with essential life skills in their journey to self-sufficiency. Many of our youth struggle with barriers ranging from mood and anxiety disorders to drug and alcohol addiction. My goal is to provide our youth with a variety of resources they can access and utilize in their personal lives to address and overcome such barriers. On July 15, 2009 our organization had the pleasure of welcoming Jim Mandelin as a speaker at one of our workshops. I would now like to take this opportunity to express my sincerest gratitude to Jim and the John Howard Society for the invaluable service provided for our youth. Jim has clearly led a life full of hardships to say the least, and his story is both emotional and thought provoking. Jim’s story carries a message of survival, courage, and resiliency. While enlightening our group with his struggles and accomplishments, Jim presented as a genuinely caring and compassionate individual. Indeed, Jim’s sincere and sensitive nature promoted a proactive and empowering atmosphere for our youth. On behalf of the youth and staff at Aunt Leah’s, I would again like to express my deepest appreciation for the work that Jim does with the John Howard Society and the passion he so clearly expresses in making a difference in people’s lives. Jim is a survivor and an inspiration. Sincerely, Erika Morgan