Melvin has overcome incredible odds to become the person he is today. Growing up in the inner-city of Cleveland, Ohio Melvin faced the obstacles of a fatherless household; being raised by a teenage mother; and the pressure of gang violence. As an adult, Melvin has faced divorce, being a single parent to a female child, remarrying and dealing with the role of a stepfather. In his life’s journey, Melvin continues to talk to men and women about the importance of building their legacy. The passion for helping young men and women to understand the importance of creating a foundation for how they want to be remembered is what inspired him to create Legacy Builders Speakers. Melvin has spoken at many college events, Fatherhood Initiative programs, and community events. He is a strong advocate for bridging the gap in fatherless households. Melvin is currently writing a book entitled: Breaking the Cycle of Abandonment (I AM NOT MY FATHER).Melvin is active on various boards, including ACTION Networking Inc. a mentoring program for young men and women 14 to young adults. The desire to Inspire, Learn and Listen is the philosophy of the organization and the bedrock principles in Melvin’s life.Melvin earned an Associates of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Cuyahoga Community College, a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree in Organizational Management from Tiffin University, and a Master’s of Science degree in Leadership at Walden University.