Melissa was born and raised in Jamaica Plain. She is a lifelong Boston resident. Her parents are immigrants from Honduras and the Dominican Republic, respectively.

In high school, Melissa participated in the Brian J. Honan fellowship program, an internship that empowers the city’s youth to engage in government and politics, and she credits the program for igniting her passion for activism. As a first-generation college student, Melissa received a degree in Sociology with a minor in Communications from Worcester State. In 2022, she was selected to join the SPARK Boston cohort to help encourage young adults to participate in local government initiatives. Melissa previously worked for the Boston Public Health Commission where she served in two departments: Homeless Services and the Youth Development Network. 

In her free time she enjoys spending time with her dachshund Romeo, exploring new restaurants with friends, or simply binge watching a show on the couch with her partner.