Questions & answers
The things people ask.
Find direct answers about Every Corner Has a Name, Melvin's speaking, and support after a loss to violence.
What is Every Corner Has a Name about?
Every Corner Has a Name is Melvin Williams Sr.'s memoir of grief, forgiveness, and learning it's OK to cry. It follows the loss of his father to gun violence at age two, the losses that followed, and his decision to face his father's killer in court in 2025.
Who is Melvin Williams Sr.?
Melvin Williams Sr. is a Philadelphia author, grief keynote speaker, and founder and CEO of The Philly Made Us Foundation. Raised in Germantown, he speaks from lived experience about loss to gun violence, forgiveness, and healing.
Is Every Corner Has a Name a true story?
Yes. It is a memoir based on Melvin's own life, including the murder of his father, Melvin Mark Langley, and the grief he carried for decades. In 2025, he stood in a Philadelphia courtroom and chose forgiveness.
Who should read this book?
This book is for people carrying loss, especially families affected by gun violence and men taught to keep their grief quiet. Counselors, chaplains, victim advocates, educators, reentry professionals, and leaders supporting grieving people may also find it useful.
Is the book good for book clubs and support groups?
Yes. It includes a Reader's Discussion Guide, a Guided Journal with 20 prompts, and a Personal Grief Plan. Groups can use these to open honest conversations without asking anyone to share more than they are ready to share.
What topics does Melvin speak on?
Melvin speaks on grief after gun violence, Black men and grief, forgiveness, breaking the cycle of grief and violence, and grief in the workplace. His formats include keynotes, workshops, fireside chats, panels, book club visits, and virtual or in-person events.
Does Melvin speak at reentry programs, schools, and churches?
Yes. His speaking topics are designed for reentry and corrections programs, schools and universities, churches, and community violence-intervention audiences. He also speaks to victim services organizations, mental health conferences, nonprofits, and corporate leadership teams.
How do I book Melvin to speak or order books in bulk?
Send a request through the Book Melvin form and choose your event type, or select Bulk Book Order for copies for your group. Include your organization, audience, location, and any event details you have. Melvin's team will be in touch within two business days.
Where can I find help if I'm grieving a loss to violence?
You do not have to carry this alone. In the United States, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org. The Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia offers local support for people affected by violence; visit avpphila.org to learn about current services. The book also includes a Resources section.