Melissa Ann Taylor

I've been working in the nonprofit field for about 7 years, primarily volunteering at New Hour for Women and Children on Long Island, which is my number one group. I also do contract work as a public speaker since I'm on SSI disability and can't get a full-time job, so several agencies I'm involved with look out for me and give me gig work. Agencies constantly hire me for panels and public speaking gigs. I've done several televised appearances and major speaking engagements, including on the Million Dollar Staircase in Albany and at Foley Park in Manhattan, both for the No Price on Justice campaign. I also did a panel at New York Law School on fines and fees and how they destroy black, brown, and low-income communities. My fiance and I are featured on the website NoPriceOnJustice.org. I've had a lot of articles written about me, and I was Woman of the Month for College and Community Fellowship during Women's Month a couple of years ago. I work with many organizations including Center of Community Alternatives since 2020, doing all my public speaking for them, as well as Fine-Tuned Justice Center, College and Community Fellowship who sent me to school, and Justice for Women's Task Force. I have a good team around me with several agencies that help me out. I've graduated from so many cohorts and fellowships to keep myself well-prepared and up to date on everything going on all the time.