Meet Melissa Sullivan in Fort Lauderdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Sullivan.

Born in Miami and raised in Dade and Broward Counties, Melissa returned to South Florida in 2017 after a decade in our Nation’s capital. Melissa has served as a fundraiser for candidates for United States Congress and as a policy staffer in the United States Senate. An advocate for diverse communities including veterans and individuals experiencing homelessness, Melissa has served on the boards of Goodwill of Greater Washington’s Young Professionals Council and Love Thy Neighbor. Melissa is a graduate of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale, the New Leaders Council Washington, DC and the Truman National Security Project’s Congressional Security Scholars program. An alumna of American University’s School of Public Affairs, Melissa lives in Victoria Park, Ft. Lauderdale. This summer, Melissa will begin a year-long term as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
A loved one’s decision to join the Marine Corps on September 12, 2001, was the catalyst for me to become an advocate for the military and veteran communities. Unfortunately, my loved one experienced a host of post-deployment difficulties. A young woman at the time, I tried my best to provide support and navigate the military bureaucracy. Ultimately, I was not successful. To cope with the frustration, disappointment and sadness I felt, I leveraged my passion for politics to lobby lawmakers to fund and expand mental health care initiatives for returning service members and veterans.

My advocacy first led me to work for Congressional and Senatorial candidates who were staunch supporters of the military and veteran communities. My labor of love later led me to a position with the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. If it were not for the painful personal experiences I had with a servicemember, I do not believe I would have pursued the career path I have for the past seventeen years. I am grateful I was able to channel the grief surrounding that trying time into a positive outcome. In sharing my story and applying my insights, I have impacted legislation and raised awareness about the importance of supporting our troops as equally on the homefront as we do on the battlefield.

Presently, I volunteer with a number of non-profit organizations assisting the military and veteran communities including The Mission Continues and The Honor Flight Network. Though the Honor Flight Network, it is a tremendous privilege to have served as a guardian for over fifteen veterans of WWII and the Korean War, escorting these heroes on a trip to visit their memorials and monuments in Washington, DC. My past volunteer work has included Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Friends of the Soldiers Home and The Armed Forced Retirement Home.

While my years of advocacy had a net positive effect, the hours and energy I poured into working and volunteering left me little time to focus on academics. As a result, I took several pauses from my studies. My December 2016 graduation from American University was the result of a decade-long endeavor to earn my undergraduate degree. In 2014, within credits of graduation, I was dismissed from the university for failing to satisfy the mathematics requirement. Only after my dismissal did I discover I have had a life-long math-related learning disability. With the validation of medical diagnosis, I was granted permission to return to the university in 2016 to complete my remaining courses. As a non-traditional student who was roughly a decade older (*wiser*) than her peers, in addition to the adversities associated with having a learning disability, life as an undergraduate was tough. However, the completion of my degree has allowed me to seek new and challenging opportunities.

Next month, I will begin a year term of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer with the Illinois Chapter of Student Veterans of America. I am excited to leverage my passion for veterans and apply my experience as an adult student in order to advocate on behalf of, empower, and equip Illinois’ 35,000 student veterans for success within and outside of the classroom.

What should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am an individual volunteer. While I am affiliated with a number of non-profit organizations, I also organize events independent of these organizations.

For example, I began the 30 Days of Service Project in September 2015. As a way to celebrate a milestone birthday, I volunteered for 30 days, from September 1-30. During this period, I performed a daily act of service and recruited friends, family members, and colleagues to join. I completed the project for the third consecutive year in September 2017.

You can learn more about the project here:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/community-voices/article185009728.html

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/southwest-ranches/fl-dcg-30-days-1031-20171031-story.html

http://www.theeagleonline.com/article/2016/10/student-celebrates-birthday-with-30-days-of-service

In addition to my signature, 30 Days of Service event, I organize plant-based meals for the homeless community in Ft. Lauderdale. In partnership with local businesses and national brands, I receive donated food and products. I prepare a 100% plant-based meal and serve approximately 100 individuals experiencing homelessness in Stranahan Park, an encampment in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. I have organized two of these feedings to date. I plan to continue these events.

Learn more about my volunteer work with the homeless community here:

https://www.local10.com/community/south-florida-woman-goes-on-shopping-spree-gives-items-to-homeless

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/letters/fl-letter-homeless-solution-south-florida-20170812-story.html

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is never settling, refusing to accept failure, always striving to surpass your belief of what is possible, and challenging yourself physically and psychologically in pursuit of the greater good. Success is about growth, progress, and impact. I am most successful when I am able to better myself and improve my community. The only way to rise is by lifting others.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @lapisofluxury
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissasullivan985?ref=bookmarks

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