****I am only willing to host Couch Surfers if they actually read my profile. Please write something in your message to me that would let me know that you did****

***HOME LOCATION: I live in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx, not Manhattan; about 40 minutes from the middle of Manhattan. Yes, you lose a little convenience, but you gain: 1) a great host (read my reviews) 2) life altering conversations- a new world opened to you that you likely never knew existed 3) meals+ coffee, tea, juice etc. 4) a bedroom, not a couch 5) access to on-site gym. Is it worth it? You tell me :) ***

**NOTE: I am also up for meeting in person, so long as I am not hosting CS'ers and am available. Let's exchange numbers.**

WHAT I DO: I run a non-profit organization that I started which free's innocent people who are in prison for crimes they did not commit and works to prevent this from happening through raising awareness and seeking changes in the law. We used to also help those who are released following exoneration reintegrate back into society.

MY STORY:

Seeking to take the negative that happened to me and turn it into a positive, I started the organization as a first person advocate because I spent 16 years in prison for a murder and rape which I did not commit-from age 17 to 32- prior to being proven innocent through DNA testing which not only freed me, but also identified the actual perpetrator, who was subsequently arrested and convicted. Our website is www.Deskovic.org
Here is a short 1 minute 32 second video of when I attended my first high school reunion, which encapsulates my story: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXtsdpCmNb8&t=11s ]

Our successes have included freeing 14 people who were wrongfully imprisoned, including one person who was in prison for 23 1/2 years; helping four exonerees reintegrate back into society; and helping to pass legislation videotaping interrogations; changes in the identification process; expanding the DNA databank; Discovery reform; Commission On Prosecutor Conduct; Automatic Expungement; Less Is More. I am an advisory board member of the coalition group It Can Happen To You, which my Foundation is part of. For my role in helping the coalition pass the countries first Commission On Prosecutor Conduct (an independent oversight board), which was a six year fight that we led, I received the Private Sector Servant of Justice Award [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkgA4z_QJH4&t=1s]

I am part of the Right 2 Remain Silent coalition.

I am part of the Court New York deserves coalition.

I am also a Global Advisory Council member of Restorative Justice International. [http://www.restorativejusticeinternational.com/about/ ] I am a co-owner of Recharge Beyond The Bars Re-Entry Game: [ http://www.rechargethegame.com/ ]

My body of work includes delivering more than 200 presentations across the country; authoring more than 200 articles; giving hundreds of print, radio, television, and new media interviews; lobbying elected officials and testifying at legislative hearings. I have lectured in front of groups of police officers, prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, and other criminal justice professionals. I have also adjunct taught a college course on wrongful conviction twice; on air wrongful conviction expert for a television show.

In recognition of my advocacy work, much of which was done through my organization, I have won the following awards:

2022 The Wrongful Conviction Award by the Davis Vanguard (2022):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XqVvc_zf7c

2022 Servant of Justice Overcoming Adversity Specialist by MTB (Made To Believe);

2020 Advocate of the Year by Citizens Against Recidivism;

2020 Humanitarian of the Year Award by Unlabelled Awards;

2020 Advocate of the Month by Wrongful Conviction News (twice);

2019 Conquest Award by Unlabelled Awards;

2018 Private Sector Servant of Justice by It Could Happen To You;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkgA4z_QJH4&t=629s

2018 Distinguished Alumnus from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvl-rDxJM1Y&t=1s

2018 Sobrie-Pasternack Award by Pace Law School (which is given to the law student who has contributed the most to civil rights while a law student);

2018 Agent of Change by the Hudson Valley ReEntry Network;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HKdVvqeAcQ&t=1692s

2015 Humanitarian of the Year by the New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TQf9LX1pkA&t=21s

2014 New Yorker Of the Week by New York 1;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Jn56uP530&t=54s

Certificate of Excellence by the Peekskill NAACP in 2022, for serving on the Peekskill Police Taskforce Reform Group

I am listed in the book, “50 at 50”, which lists the top 50 students in the John Jay College of Criminal Justice fifty years of existence

***If my story and advocacy work move you, touch you, trigger something in you to be against injustice, I would like you to assist my organization through the ways and means open to you. If you are not sure how you can help, ask me. There are a lot ways that don't ordinarily dawn on people. Maybe in addition to that, you can functioning as a connector to others who can assist the organization one way or another, including through in-kind donations [defined as people providing services that have a value to them, but rather than charging they do for it as their part in advancing the cause/effort. We are a 501 C 3, so a tax benefit is available]***

ABOUT ME/INTELLECTUALLY: Beyond being an advocate, I am well rounded and I enjoy developing and experiencing all sides of the self. Intellectually, I am a people person who enjoys good conversation, who both thinks outside the box and also is a deep thinker, often thinking about things from four or five different directions before forming a conclusion. I am willing to change my opinion if I am convinced that it is the right thing to do/that I am wrong. I am committed to learning and self improvement. I enjoy documentaries. The fact that something hasn't been done before or in that way doesn't deter me- in fact that stimulates me. I believe that living a balanced life is important. Planning things makes a lot of sense, while doing things spur the moment has a great adventurous feel as well. By the way, we don't have to limit our interaction to being in my house- we can go out an do things. I am typically free at night around 5/6 PM. What type of activities would you like to do? Also, I love things that require thinking ahead: chess, Chinese Checkers, Jenga.

INTERESTS: I love experiencing the world: from new experiences, to sampling new foods, to travelling to new places, to trying things, simply to see how the other side of the world lives. We only live once, why night have a blast and enjoy each day to the fullest? In the right place and time and with the right people, I love letting my hair down. Some examples include dancing bachata, merengue, other latin steps and styles, taking song requests when singing karaoke, bumper cars, doing cannon balls off of the diving board while landing near the side of the pool. I love doing energy based things, such as riding bikes (BTW, I have 4 bicycles), basketball, ping-pong, most things that involve a ball, swimming. I also enjoy nightlife and breaking night. So long as responsibilities and priorities are taken care of, why not? I would rather begin my work day tired till I catch my second wind if I had a fun time the night before than go in well rested as a result of having went to bed early after a boring night.

I believe that a good sense of humor involves laughing at myself as quickly as I would at someone else. An example is that I once wore a new, unused mop on my head while pretending to be a grandpa. I enjoy good, stimulating conversation- especially when mixed in with some healthy debate. I like learning as well as teaching. I once tutored adults, assisting them in preparing for the GED test; I found it to be very gratifying. I like helping people and making a difference. In addition, I believe in chasing my dreams while working really hard to turn them into reality.

I enjoy most things outdoors- there is something about feeling fresh air and the sun on my face. I like doing energy based things. I love the flexibility, choices, and freedom that working for myself brings me, yet my both of my feet are very much solidly on the ground, and while I definitely view myself as a professional in my ways, yet I am not a stuffy shirt nor do I take myself too seriously. Simply put, I am just Jeff.

I look forward to meeting many interesting people from around the world, and helping to show them a good time while enabling them to minimize costs of travel. I am willing to pick up couch surfers from the airport, drop them back, and provide them with meals. I love having fun, doing various activities. Let me know what your plans are: I would like to accompany you to some of the places you go provided my schedule allows it, and have some conversation, yet you are also most welcome to come and go as you wish and do some things without me. In general I am fee to hang out/do activities/have conversation at night, usually at 6PM, although occasionally I will be free to hang out in the daytime. If you would like to hang out in the daytime, ask if my schedule would allow that. If I can, I will, but if I can't, then I will politely decline but appreciate the invitation. Flexible, easy going, and considerate are my hallmarks.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I would like to host couch surfers. Why? I like meeting new people, and learning about other countries and cultures. I like being hospitable and showing others a good time, leaving a positive imprint on those that come in contact with me. I want to enrich the quality of trip people I meet via couch surfing experience while I become more seasoned as a result of meeting many people I would never have met otherwise. I like good conversation, learning about other countries, cultures and customs, and having a good time via doing things together. Welcome!

Interests

dancing; good conversation; biking; comedy club; sporting events; chess; chinese checkers; going to justice type events; watching documentaries; movies; swimming; playing basketball; kickball; ping pong; tubing; amusement parks; new experiences; sampling new foods; playing Nintendo; sight seeing; politics

• culture
• singing
• documentaries
• dancing
• bachata
• coffee
• running
• nightlife
• clubbing
• politics
• movies
• chess
• traveling
• billiards
• cars
• karaoke
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• surfing
• scuba diving
• basketball
• boxing
• swimming
• table tennis
• kickball
• communications
• emergency services
• law
• sightseeing
• parks
• salsa
• new things
• merengue
• comedy club
• regaetton

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC: depends on my mood.

A) If I am feeling energetic, 80' Rock and Roll; Rap; R and B; House; Pop; Beastie Boys; Def Leppard; Nas; Guns and Roses; Jay Z

B) FOR DANCING:, bachata [Romeo, Prince Royce, Aventura] merengue, regaetton.

C) For Reflection: Songs that have a deep meaning, such as those about life and sentimental meanings. [Last Day by Nickleback; 100 Years by Five For Fighting; Superman by Five For Fighting; Reason by Hoobastank; Here Without You by Three Doors Down; Time of Your Life by Green Day; Live To Tell by Madonna; Wake Me Up by Aloe Blacc; Higher by Creed; Collide by Howie Day; If I Lay Here by Snow Patrol; Going Home by Daughtry]

MOVIES: Creed, Rocky Movies; In The Name of the Father; Conviction; Hurricane; Butterfly Effect; Star Wars; Nightmare on Elm Street; Heat; Think Like A Man; Taken; Seven Pounds; Righteous Kill; Predator; El Mariachi; Ray; Dumb and Dumber

BOOKS: How To Be An Adult in Relationships; What Women Want; Veil- The CIA's Secret Wars; The Ambition and the Power: The Fall of Jim Wright; The Making of the President series by Theodore White; Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom; On Children and Dying by Elizabeth Kubler Ross; Do You What You Love, The Money Will Come; The Prince by Machiavelli; The Shannara Series; books by David Eddings; Chicken Soup For The Prisoners Soul; books by Terry Goodkind; books by Tom Clancy.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hard to pick just one! I have been blessed.

The organization I started helped free seven people who were wrongfully imprisoned. No words can describe the feelings; it was without a doubt the second best moment of my life [the first being when I myself was freed] yet so humbling and awe-inspiring. I was grateful we were able to accomplish that.

The coalition group which I am part of, It Can Happen To You, led a six year fight-beginning with our idea and culminating in the passage of legislation- which created the country's first independent oversight body for prosecutors, called a "Commission On Prosecutor Conduct."

I've been to the White House and met with staffers. I have spoken to celebrities. I have given presentations to packed auditoriums, including a school that had life size posters of me throughout the campus!

I have endorsed in some political races, and my candidates are 3-2!!

I participated in 2 week long tours in other countries, working with advocates on the ground to educated the public as well as governmental officials about the problem of wrongful conviction while urging them to pass legislation aimed at preventing them.

My brother and I dominated other riders on the bumper cars!!!

Teach, Learn, Share

TEACH:

1) I can teach about what systemic deficiencies cause wrongful conviction and what changes are needed to prevent them 2) I can teach about broader criminal justice reform 3) I can teach my public speaking methods 4) I can teach Chinese Checkers 5) I can share life lessons from my experience. 6) I can share my perspective on life 6) I can teach basic bachata which I learned during a 2 week intensive class I took in which I studied for five hours a day 7) I can teach a few basic moves of salsa dancing

LEARN:

1) I like to learn about what life is like in other countries, as well as learn about other culture and customs
2) Spanish (I am receiving tutoring, so you can help me with additional phrases and pronunciation) 3) things that I don't know about 4) new outlooks on life/philosophy 5) I would like to learn more dancing: additional instruction on bachata, salsa, merengue, as well as beginning to learn Tango and Cumbia.

SHARE:

A) COME WITH ME TO: 1) events where I am speaking at or television/radio/print media interviews
2) criminal justice events where I am not speaking at but am simply an audience member 3) new activities/energy based things 4) comedy clubs 5) nightlife events which involve dancing bachata, merengue, regaetton 6) do some new activities which you have never done before but would like to- if I have never done them before I can join you, or if I have done them and would like to do them again with you. There are many things on the app called Groupon which have interesting things to do at a greatly reduced price.

B) good conversation. exchange of experiences and ideas
c) new experiences

What I Can Share with Hosts

My life story; information about my organization; my perspectives on life; life lessons I have learned. I can provide a person with a lot of energy who want to have fun : )

My contagious desire to experience new activities, try new things, go to unusual activities, do energetic activities, My enthusiasm about experiencing nightlife- if you come with me, show me where to go, then other than paying your own cover charge, nothing else will cost you :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Armenia, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Panama, Taiwan