Melissa Reyes-Vazquez (she, her)

Melissa Reyes has been a children’s rights advocate, mental health therapist, educator, founding member of OMAAT Academy (a youth life skills summer program), and a community-based after-school program director for over 20 years. Most recently, Melissa was awarded the 2015 Empowered Latina Award by the JC Penny and Eva Longoria Foundation for all her hard work and dedication to youth and families throughout the community since 1997. Being born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and migrating to the San Fernando Valley at age 5, Melissa immediately noticed the disparities in the educational system and the need to be the voice for children in all communities. Melissa is a double Alumni of the University of Phoenix, receiving a bachelor's in Human Services in 2011 and a master's in Marriage and Family Counseling in 2015. She is a mental health therapist and a social worker for the Department of Children Family Services in the San Fernando Valley.