Presentation Reviews:

"I highly recommend Mr. Gonzalez speak with any youth, especially
youth from the Port Hueneme and Oxnard areas. Mr. Gonzalez is able to
adjust his presentation style to fit the needs of particular grade
levels. When he came to speak with our students we split up the lower
grades from the upper grades. Even though the PowerPoint presented by
Mr. Gonzalez was the same, he was able to tailor each performance for
the grade levels. The students were engaged, laughing when
appropriate, always thinking deeply about what the author had to say.
The message that Mr. Gonzalez delivers is clear: nobody can tell our
children what they can or cannot be-- our children can achieve
ANYTHING they want as long as they stay true to themselves. If schools
are looking for an inspirational leader who can connect with children
of all ages, then they should seek to have Mr. Gonzalez speak to their
students. His positive energy will inspire and influence children to
dig deep and feel comfortable in their own skin."

-Principal Pelayo, Larsen Elementary School, Oxnard, CA

"Martin Gonzalez volunteered to come and speak to my 7th and 8th grade
students. His presentation was spectacular and was exactly what these
students needed to hear. The students were completely enthralled
throughout his presentation. His inspiring message of cultural pride
engaged students, and pushed their thinking towards self-realization,
cultural insight and life goals they can obtain in the future.I would
definitely recommend Martin as a guest speaker to any institution of
education or where people could use his insightful knowledge. Martin
is from Oxnard and he definitely knows where our students are coming
from and can speak their language. As a result, I feel that he has
more pull with students. Additionally, his book presentation was an
integral part of his message. His book has inspired students to take
more pride in their culture and living environment. Students walked
away feeling a sense of pride for the Oxnard area and was like a
Martin was a breath of fresh air compared to all the negative press
that Oxnard receives. The stories were easy for students to understand
and more importantly, relatable to the students in a positive manner.
As a teacher who didn’t grow up in this area, his presentation gave me
a better sense of where students are coming from, their thought
process, and shed a very positive light on this socio-economically
depressed area. Martin’s performance as a speaker was as though he
were on a stage getting paid thousands of dollars to be a motivational
speaker. The students related to his message, were engaged, and
overall highly motivated to hear his message and see his vision.In the
future, I will be asking Mr. Gonzalez back to speak to future
generations of our students. Students need to continue to hear his
important message and engage in his cultural interchange."

- Mr. Wilcox, E.O. Green Middle School, Oxnard, CA