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Melinda Vega, who's lived her whole life in Chelsea, got her start in activism early. At just 14, she was already doing her part for environmental justice in her neighborhood and East Boston, fighting for more green space and better access to the waterfront. Melinda has activism in her blood, thanks to her mom, Gladys Vega, who's a total force in the community organizing field in Massachusetts. Melinda says, "When I say I was born and bred into this, I say I've been organizing since I was in her womb, so I live and breathe this." Growing up, she always saw her mom doing her thing as a single parent, juggling life and leading the charge for change. By 19, she was working with the Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, (NOAH) in East Boston, where she got involved with Community Development Corporation (CDC). Working with CDCs, she got hands-on experience with anti-racism work and kept building her as a community organizer.

Her time with the Mel King Institute (MKI) really kicked off when she joined peer group sessions run by Pam Bender. This is where she really got into the swing of learning from other organizers, tackling problems together, and helping each other out. "Pam and Shirronda really supported me and helped me expand my community organizing skills," said Melinda.

Sarah Horsley, another organizer from the peer sessions, saw potential in her, too. Melinda spoke about how Sarah encouraged her to take her skills further, and with that, Melinda asked her to be her mentor. "I asked her to be a mentor for me because I love the way she would facilitate her training and how it's so interactive." Sarah helped Melinda see that they were really just there to support each other. That's how she got more involved with the MKI, moving from being trained to doing the training herself. She spoke about how grateful she is to the MKI for helping her grow as an organizer.

Melinda's the one running the OppCo's Fellowship for Equitable Affordable Housing Development (FEAHD). She shows passion for helping out the up-and-coming people who share her background, "The FEAHD program really is a program that supports young professionals that look like me, that come from our neighborhood, low-income communities of color, to be associate project managers when they enter the fellowship." She's passionately committed to providing guidance and opportunities to individuals from similar backgrounds who aspire to embark on careers in managing significant housing development projects.

Melinda collaborates closely with her colleague Sarah as co-instructor for the MKI's "Community Organizer 101 and 102" workshops. Within the framework of these sessions, she generously imparts her personal narratives and insights gained from years of organizing and facilitating. Melinda explains, "So even though we're facilitating, we're more so equipping and enlightening, as well as absorbing and exchanging our varied experiences and skills, discussing what's effective and what isn't." The training has many real-world experiences and applications from which the participants actively learn. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with the only minor criticism being a collective desire for extended sessions to delve deeper into the rich discussions that grow.

Melinda and Sarah encourage ongoing dialogue by being available even after the training, fostering a supportive environment long after the sessions conclude. She emphasizes the importance of the MKI as a platform for growth, not only for those with formal education but also for individuals like herself who may have taken a non-traditional path. Now, as a facilitator, she embraces the responsibility of guiding others passionately, recognizing it as an honor and a privilege.

If you wish to register for the upcoming community organizing trainings, please click on the link below.

Community Organizing 101 March 06
Community Organizing 102: Building Powerful Campaigns - April 10