Melissa has continually applied a trauma-informed care approach in her previous work with diverse populations, including adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, children on the autism spectrum, and adults with SMI who were previously involved in the criminal legal system. In 2020, Melissa trained as both a street medic and mental health first aid responder to assist protestors in need. Melissa has used her personal experience in the criminal legal system to focus her passion for advocacy on others who remain in the system. She enjoys reading, gardening, volunteering, and playing video games.