After taking a break from teaching few years ago Melissa began taking time for herself and started channeling her free time by traveling and running. Fast forward, Melissa has traveled throughout the United States and to 24 countries, run in a several half marathons and the TCS NYC marathon and she's even weigh lifted. Melissa has returned back to teaching but still makes time to travel. She makes it a point to share her travel experiences with her students and she lets them know travel and tourism isn’t an exclusive space. If she can travel, so can they. Melissa is also the founder of Represent We which is a people powered initiative to advocate for a local law that would grant municipal voting rights to green card holders and other work permit holders. Representation matters is more than just a saying Melissa, she’s implementing it throughout her personal and professional life.For more information on Represent We and to see Melissa’s next adventure visit @representwe@868inthe718