Melissa Forde Email & Phone Number

Facilitate and fund community-led projects that support the social emotional well-being of children. Residents are at the center of every project, identifying the social emotional well-being of the children that live in their community, solutions to address gaps they have identified, and implementation of these solutions. Throughout the process, residents are supported and provided capacity building in areas they have self-identified. They receive compensation for the time they spend working on the project. This process supports a shift in power back into the hands of the community.

The Kaleidoscope Project is an intermediary for the John Rex Endowment that generates attention to and action around the critically important role healthy places and spaces play in social and emotional development of children and families. The Kaleidoscope Project centers community to enhance the location and impact of places and spaces so that all children grow up nurtured by a positive, supportive environment, and become adults who benefit from and contribute to healthy communities. • Managed the planning and execution of 24 project sites located in Wake County, NC.• Worked collaboratively with five expert organization partners (Marbles Kids Museum, Lucy Daniels Center, Natural Learning Initiative, Wake County Smart Start, and REACH, a project of Passage Home) to implement researched based best practices within the community of Wake County. • Participated in community initiatives that promote positive young child mental health and social emotional growth.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

• Responsible for the operations of the Raleigh, North Carolina office. • Managed office operating budget and finances.• Developed and implemented plan to meet or exceed development goals.• Actively participated on charter development team to collectively improve development outcomes.• Recruited, trained, and managed Area Leadership Board and other volunteers.• Worked with the local Leadership Board to cultivate partnerships with community leaders. • Managed and planned local fundraising special events and the expansion of ALA programs within the community. • Oversaw volunteer opportunities and volunteer tasks.• Developed and submitted timely program reports.• Served as a representative and spokesperson for the American Lung Association.• Promoted lung health and clean air for all.

Raleigh, Nc

• Oversaw the planning and execution of four signature fundraising events located in Wake County with an overall fundraising portfolio of $365,300. • Managed a volunteer base of 60 committee leaders for the American Cancer Society’s signature grassroots fundraising event, Relay For Life®.• Trained community volunteers in their respective roles within the Relay For Life committee in order to meet fundraising goals. • Recruited community teams of families, friends and businesses to participate in Relay For Life, coaching teams on the best practices to maximize fundraising potential. • Secured both monetary and in-kind donations from community businesses, establishing relationships and ensuring a professional experience throughout the donation process.• Acted as a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society at community meetings, events, and with local media, advancing the overall mission of eliminating cancer as a major health problem.

Baltimore, Maryland Area

• Secured sponsors and exhibitors for multiple events including, the annual national convention.• Managed fundraising initiatives.• Planned and executed outreach initiatives.• Constantly explored new and exciting ways to engage and educate the public about the NFB philosophy on blindness.

• Served as a Civic Engagement AmeriCorps member responsible for engaging and understanding the community City Year serves. • Engaged more than 2,300 volunteers in transformational and sustainable beautification projects within school districts and community centers in the Bay Area over a 10-month period.• Constructed the logistical plans for service events that engaged a wide variety of volunteers ranging from children to corporate sponsors such as Bank of America and Cisco.• Executed community mapping in order to fully grasp a community's resources and needs.• Recruited potential future corps members and donors for City Year through outreaches and presentations at high schools, colleges, career fairs, and corporate settings.

Masters Of Science, Project Management

Ba, Corporate Communications

Activities and Societies: Pi Gamma Mu, Lambda Pi Eta (Communications Honor Society), Communications seat on SGA