Carlos Salcedo/Arizona Republic

Forest Melton shares his story at Changing Hands Bookstore in Phoenix on Feb. 8, 2017.

KJZZ partners with the Arizona Republic to bring you the Arizona Storytellers series. We record the live events and share them with you on the radio. In Phoenix, the storytellers sometimes share stories about our community or the life events that have shaped them in general. Megan Finnerty is the creator of the series. 

Forest Melton grew up in South Phoenix. He said it wasn’t a great neighborhood. Melton's parents didn’t like him and his siblings going outside alone because of gang activity.

One summer when he was 9 years old, Melton was at home doing chores when his best friend came by. He convinced him to go ride bikes without their parents’ permission.

Melton decided to go. But when he got home, his dad was angry. He took Melton to where they were riding bikes and his dad made him crawl down the street on his hands and knees back to their house as punishment.

Forest Melton is a clinical research coordinator at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

The next storytelling event is Sept. 28, 2017, at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.

→ Hear More Arizona Storytellers