More often than not, at CLSEPA we get to work with amazing leaders in our community.

Melanie is one of those leaders, and her journey through adversity is a testament to the inherent power we have to change, grow, and become the best version of ourselves.

During the pandemic, as many struggled with homelessness, Melanie felt a profound connection to her community. Witnessing her brothers and sisters living in tents ignited her desire to give back. In May 2020 she founded Dignity Among Us, a nonprofit organization aimed at providing essential services and support to those in need. Just as she once received help, Melanie now actively invests in her community, offering food distribution, clothing assistance, and vital resources for navigating bureaucratic hurdles like applying for Social Security Disability benefits, submitting housing assistance applications, and accessing addiction treatment.

To build back her community, Melanie believes service is not just about addressing immediate needs, it's about fostering interdependence and self-sufficiency among individuals who have faced immense obstacles. She grew up in East Palo Alto during the 1970s, when African Americans had networks and could lean on each other to get through hardships collectively. The East Palo Alto Melanie remembers has been lost throughout the years due to the displacement of communities of color. Her mission today is to “stop the suffering” and to build back a strong, interconnected community empowered to stand up for one another.

Melanie knows first hand that to heal a community, you have to start at the individual level and focus on yourself first. In 2018, Melanie was working in social services, and was reassigned to administrative duties due to her record. Looking back, she was thankful for the reassignment because “when the results on the fingerprints came back, it took my breath away. I literally had to sit down when I saw my RAP sheet!” She decided she would no longer live in the shadow of her criminal record.

“I didn’t like the look of my rap sheet. Up until the day I discovered the law clinic, I was afraid to take fingerprinting for employment.”

Melanie found Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA) during a free live scan event at Service Connect, San Mateo County’s reentry center. Often, the cost of a live scan can be a barrier to cleaning up one’s criminal record. At the time, Melanie was working, but seeing that CLSEPA was right there offering expungement services, she decided that it was time to clear her record and make sure that nothing stood in the way of achieving her dreams. Melanie’s determination, combined with CLSEPA’s advocacy, ensured her criminal record was cleared, lifting the weight that had once seemed insurmountable.

Melanie’s story is intertwined with the broader issues facing communities of color, particularly in places like East Palo Alto, where systemic inequalities have perpetuated cycles of poverty and over-incarceration. Over-incarceration has led to loss of generational wealth and ongoing displacement. Although EPA was ‘homicide-free’ in 2017 and 2023, criminal records and trauma from violence and incarceration continue to hamper economic advancement for EPA residents.

For over 15 years, Melanie has committed herself to recovery, overcoming the disease of chemical dependency and rebuilding her life. Her determination to clear her record was not just about personal freedom – it was about unlocking new possibilities for her future, and by extension, for her community. The services CLSEPA provides are one step in the journey towards achieving lifelong goals. We support clients to clear their records and move beyond them to a better future.

As a caretaker and guardian for three households, Melanie’s resilience and nurturing spirit extend far beyond her own recovery journey, making her a beacon of strength and support for her family and the entire community. Melanie is not just a survivor; she's a shining example of the extraordinary strength that can emerge from adversity. Not only did Melanie conquer the goal of clearing her record, she also has proudly maintained her sobriety since November 23, 2009. When asked how having a clean record feels, Melanie said, “I feel free! It’s never too late to fulfill one’s deepest desires”

Melanie’s story shows us that there is a leader within all of us. Once we can remove barriers and pursue our dreams, we can lead by listening, lead by taking action, and lead by accepting and offering resources.

Community Legal Services believes everyone can be a leader, and we hope you’ll join us in making this a reality.

We invite you to support our community’s leadership and our dreams this season.