Helen Prejean
Helen Prejean, C.S.J., was born and raised in Baton Rouge
and has lived in Louisiana all her life. A member of the
Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille, she has long been involved
in community work among the poor. Her contact with a man
on death row in Louisiana's Angola State Prison led her
to become both an outspoken activist against capital punishment
and an advocate for murder victims' families. Prejean is
the author of Dead Man Walking, which was made into a motion
picture by Tim Robbins, and in which she was portrayed by
actress Susan Sarandon. In 1998 Prejean was awarded the Pacem in Terris Award,
which in Latin means "peace on earth."
Resources for Teachers
and Students
Reflections on Working
Towards Peace