Melissa grew up in Saratoga Springs, went to Lake Ave Elementary, had her senior portrait taken by George Bolster, has ridden her bike down every alley, remembers when Mrs. London’s was on Phila Street and Mabou was on Broadway, worked at the Adelphi long before it was transformed, snuck into concerts at SPAC, spent Sunday mornings at St. Clement’s. This town has been important to her for 55 years.

She has a BA from St. Lawrence University, an M.Ed. from the University of Vermont, and an M.A. in Pastoral Care from the Fordham School of Religion.

She has worked as a hospital chaplain, a hospice chaplain, and an elder care chaplain at the Wesley Community. She recently concluded ten years as a Congregational minister in Vermont. Melissa hosts monthly Soul Circles in Saratoga, Manchester, Vt and Hanover, NH, and she is working on a project called SAM (spiritual and meaningful) a virtual service that offers older adults spiritual and emotional health care, meditative support, and a compassionate chatbot companion for meaningful connection.

Topics: Poetry