Melvin Bailey is the founder and Executive Director of the Community Male Empowerment Project (CMEP), and Director of Operations for Touch N Go Cleaning and Janitorial Services in Chicago, IL. Prior to founding CMEP, Mr. Bailey worked as a community organizer and established a reputation for being a passionate advocate for greater inclusion and employment in the real estate development industry for community residents seeking employment. Given his interest in learning more about the construction industry, during that time he was mentored by executives from Quest Development, Brown & Momen Construction, and Grath Masonry. In 2002, equipped with a dream and a vision to change inner-city communities, Mr. Bailey founded CMEP with a mission to break down barriers that impede progress, growth and inclusion in inner-city communities. Today, CMEP operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, community development corporation focused on rehabilitating vacant and abandoned properties into affordable homes for low-income families. CMEP also provides jobs and entrepreneurial training to ex-offenders through its re-entry program, local residents, and at-risk youth through job training and workforce development.Specialties: As Executive Director, Mr. Bailey is responsible for the design, development and implementation of CMEPs strategic and business planning activities, and management of its day-to-day construction and human resources, operations and budget. He also works to increase awareness of CMEPs impact and effectiveness in changing the lives of local citizens by creating a sense of hope where it otherwise does not exist.