We are thrilled to have Melissa Wright join our Teaching Artist roster this year! She is currently co-leading the Youth Advocacy Council (YAC) with Samantha Apgar. This power team has a wealth of knowledge to share in the realm of leadership, project management, governance, and advocacy training. Continue reading to learn what has informed Melissa’s professional trajectory, how YAC fits in to her dedication to service, and what she finds inspiring about working with today’s youth.
Q: How did you get involved with Project 440? What drew you to this organization?
I first saw the work of Project 440 when I was working at the School District of Philadelphia and loved the work I saw happening. I thought back to when I was a student and it was music or service due to the limited number of hours in a day. Somehow Project 440 has managed to meld these two ideas together to use music as a vehicle for service and leadership experience.
Q: Can you tell me about your work outside of Project 440?
I currently work as an Associate Director at Econsult Solutions, Inc. ESI provides economic consulting and analytical services for businesses, governments, and non-profit organizations. I work as the lead director in our government and public policy practice area. Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about how some of the major spending bills coming out of Washington, like the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Bill, will impact local communities.
Q: Advocacy for traditionally underserved communities seems to be a common thread in all of the work that you have done and continue to do. Is there a personal experience that sparked your interest in pursuing the professional path you’ve taken?
My parents knew I would go into a field where I helped people from a young age (they were right!). All of my previous work experience has revolved around advocating for children, both in the health services research and data roles at the school district. Kids are really special to me because they don’t have the same voice that adults do and they can’t vote. So it’s important that they have people looking out for them and telling their stories. One of my main skills is data, so i make sure that I tell their story, through data. I ultimately ended up focusing on education because we’ve seen it is one of the best vehicles to lift folks out of poverty.
What do you enjoy most about your work with the Youth Advocacy Council (YAC)?
The students!! After leaving my job at the school district, I missed students so much. The YAC students are absolutely amazing. They are enthusiastic and bright. Whenever someone complains about the “younger generation”, I tell them about the students I get to teach and that the future is in capable hands.
Q: Is there anything that has surprised or challenged you in your work with YAC?
Honestly, how quickly time flies. We get into really great discussions about board service or planning for Music in Color, and then you look at the clock and it is almost time to end.
Q: Today’s youth are going to be faced with finding solutions to many of society’s most pressing issues. What do you think are effective ways of empowering our students and setting them up for success as civically-engaged citizens?
I love this question! Letting them know that they have a voice now. I’m sure most of us have heard that we should ‘wait our turn,’ but the reality is that you don’t have to wait to make change. One of the most transformative moments for me, was the moment I realized I had a voice and power. The earlier we allow today’s youth to have that experience, the more time they have to hone their skills and become civically engaged citizens.
The work we do in YAC, hits on that first point, but it also teaches students the fundamentals of board service. Having that knowledge allows them to be ahead of the curve and prepared for opportunities to serve.