Samantha Fuentes

Survivor of the Parkland Florida Shooting

Samantha Fuentes

Survivor of the Parkland Florida Shooting

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Biography

Samantha Fuentes calls herself an accidental activist. And although it may not have been something she would have chosen for herself, thank God she is. Fuentes is a survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla., where she suffered traumatic injuries — including bullet shrapnel permanently embedded in her legs and behind her right eye and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). And yet despite these tragic events, Samantha is resolved and committed to a poignant mission: to make sure that no child or adult is devastated by senseless and preventable gun violence ever again.

Samantha's passion for this cause is focused and strong. She spreads her message daily by sharing her personal story, which starts well before facing down the barrel of an AR-15. Often bullied by her peers, neglected by her father and abused by her stepfather, childhood was stormy for Samantha. From early on, her single mother taught Samantha to be fiercely independent — never stopping to acknowledge her suffering or ailments. With trauma and mental illness running rampant in her family, Samantha's eyes were opened to their emotional impacts at an early age.

Today, Samantha is a board member and one of the original members of March for Our Lives, an organization founded after the shooting at Parkland for Gun Violence prevention. In addition, she works with Sandy Hook Promise and travels and works with neighborhoods affected by gun violence — expanding the survivor network. She is also a screenwriter for a film that has not been released yet.

Samantha's life experiences have tasked her to champion the importance of human rights and equality—being a victim of gun violence only further bolstered her purpose. Her perspective is straightforward: to uplift the voices of the silenced and remind us that ALL our experiences matter regardless of color, religion, gender, age or sexual orientation.

Samantha wants to rally bystanders to participate in change when they witness injustice because anything is possible in numbers. Even if the odds are low and risks are high, if Samantha still has a powerful voice, anyone can find and use theirs!

Speaker Videos

March for Our Lives

Uplifting the Voices of the Silenced

PEN America

My Strength Comes From the Strength of Others

Parkland Florida Shooting Survivor

Survivor Leadership

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Speech Topics

The Gunshot Heard Around the World: Finding an End to Senseless Gun Violence

On February 14th, 2018 a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen students and faculty were killed, and seventeen were injured; among the injured was Samantha Fuentes who sustained a gunshot wound in the leg. This mass shooting sparked international media attention and created a historical youth-led gun violence prevention movement. After facing the horrors of gun violence firsthand, Samantha felt obligated to share her story to inspire others to join the effort to end gun violence. Samantha’s goal is to live in a world where no one ever has to be like her, another victim of senseless gun violence. In this speech, Samantha recounts her moments of survival and how that influenced her activism; ultimately explaining how to become an advocate for gun violence prevention and survivors.

Student Organizing & Protest 101

How can students create social action without the ability of voting or within the walls of their campus? Why does youth engagement matter? Can kids change the world? Does social media really have an impact on modern media & politics? As a gun violence prevention activist who started in high school, who contributed largely to organizations like March For Our Lives and featured on various news outlets, Samantha Fuentes understands the importance of public engagement with today’s youth and their influences on media, politics, and social justice. Join Samantha in a conversation about how students can create, organize, and rally for social change, regardless of the barriers that age might bring.

The Blessing Disguised as a Curse: Discovering the Importance of Survivor Leadership

Navigating through any mental illness or trauma can be difficult, and even at times unbearable. As a sufferer of PTSD, depression, and anxiety, Samantha Fuentes understand all too well how much control mental illness takes away. But does pain and trauma ever offer any benefit or strength? How can you turn trauma into action? Why does survivor representation matter? In this speech, Samantha explains how she used her trauma as a catalyst for social action, and how survivors through their experiences offer valuable information on preventing future injustice. That destigmatizing the conversation around mental health is the first step to understanding more about ourselves and our strengths.

Testimonials

"Sam was the highlight of the virtual event. Based on our session feedback, our youth partners felt that her speech was powerful and inspiring. Our staff also thoroughly enjoyed Sam as well. We’re very grateful!"

- Teen Health Mississippi

"Samantha Fuentes was excellent in our webinar. Very inspiring. Engaging. Funny. Fantastic."

- Minnesota Conference UCC

“I wanted to let you know what a hit Sam was (and how much I enjoyed getting the chance to meet her). She was really generous with her time and thoughts and our students loved (loved, loved, loved) meeting her.”

- University of Southern Mississippi

On behalf of the Survivors Speak 2018 Planning Team and Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, thank you so very much for your participation in Survivors Speak 2018 in Sacramento. It was by all accounts a powerful gathering of close to 700 crime survivors from throughout the state and across the country who have now returned to their local communities even more fired up to advocate for what crime survivors really want and need — increased investments in rehabilitation, prevention and treatment, not more prisons and jails. We are grateful for your courage and leadership!

- Survivors Speak 2018 Planning Team

"We are so grateful for the expertise you shared and the impact you made. The community of 3,000 young leaders with whom you engaged at IC represents an ever-expanding network of 80,000 teens from 650 chapters across 50 countries, and we are confident that their experience working with and being inspired by you will only help to further empower their leadership back at home. The anecdotal feedback on the experience as a whole has been wonderful, and the energy radiating from the teen participants and adult guests is palpable. We are so appreciative of the time, energy, and commitment you so openly shared with our teens."

- BBYO International Convention (IC)