Welcome, Melissa!

Hello friends of New Tactics!

I feel tremendously honored to be joining the inspiring work of CVT’s New Tactics in Human Rights program! In my new role as the Project Manager for Digital Content Creation, I’ll be working remotely from North Carolina to manage New Tactics’ English and Spanish language online content and strategy and lead the development of digital content expansion projects. Prior to joining CVT, I spent 11 years in the world of education teaching high school Spanish language and Digital Multimedia and Global Citizenship, an innovation course I created in order to allow young people to leverage the power of technology to create positive change in their community. 

This transition to a digital creation role seems fitting to anyone who knows me. As a tech-savvy educator and self-proclaimed “compulsive creator,” I’ve developed strong self-taught skills in graphic design, web design, social media marketing, documentary-style videography, and more. Through passion-based leadership projects, my students have used their digital skills and a methodology similar to New Tactics’ Strategic Effectiveness Method in projects related to teen mental health, women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, cultural appreciation, and more. I care deeply about doing work that is meaningful and restorative, so I am thrilled to be in a position where I can use my passion for digital storytelling to amplify the experiences of human rights defenders around the globe.

I am also a mom of 3 young children and blessed to have an amazingly supportive husband who shares the responsibilities equally. In my free time, I enjoy visiting with family, being outdoors, and getting creative through photography, fashion, and volunteer-based design projects. There is nary a day I don’t make an adorable reel of my three tiny humans or whip up a quick graphic for a community cause. I am currently redesigning my town’s logo for the sesquicentennial (150th) celebration! We consider ourselves a neurodiversity-affirming family and strong advocates for diversity and inclusion. To this end, I recently founded a nonprofit with three other moms called KARES, which supports research and awareness for KDM5C, a rare disease that affects my oldest son.

I am immensely looking forward to being a part of this brilliant and passionate team, challenging myself to grow in a new career, and being surrounded by the compelling stories of fellow human rights activists who are creating new pathways to change daily. I hope my own skills and passion will contribute to new and exciting digital ventures for the New Tactics program!