Melissa, Founder and CEO of the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), has dedicated her career to eliminating barriers to success so that young people can reach their full potential and families can thrive. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University and a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Melissa came to New Orleans with Teach for America. Following teaching, she devoted three years to reforming Louisiana’s juvenile justice system before establishing YEP in 2004. Spearheading change, YEP became Louisiana’s first program dedicated to assisting young people transitioning from incarceration back to their families and communities.

Under Melissa’s leadership, YEP’s growth over the past 20 years has been substantial in both reach and capacity. Over the past two decades, YEP has evolved to meet the increasing needs of the New Orleans community, reaching people of all ages as they work to enhance their social-emotional learning and educational and economic opportunities. Anchored by four core programs—YEP Works, YEP Educates, YEP Enriches, and YEP Mentors—the organization now annually engages over 1,000 individuals, providing vital support and opportunities for growth.

Melissa has garnered numerous honors for her work. Among them, she was named Woman of the Year by New Orleans City Business (2024) and earned the title of “CEO of the Year” from Biz New Orleans Magazine (2022). Melissa was honored by The Times-Picayune as one of the “300 People Over 300 Years Who Have Made New Orleans, New Orleans” (2018), and received acknowledgment from the Chronicle of Philanthropy for her significant contributions to the nonprofit sector (2017). Melissa was named “New Orleanian of the Year” by Gambit Weekly (2016).

Melissa actively contributes to her community through dedicated volunteer board and committee service. Currently, she sits on the boards of Just One Voice in New Orleans, LA and Siembra Leadership Academy in Albuquerque, NM.