Vanessa Melgoza, MSW
she/her/hers/ella
Interim Executive Director
Vanessa Melgoza is a dedicated bilingual advocate and lifelong Cicero resident committed to serving her community. As Interim Executive Director, she provides strategic leadership, oversees programs, and fosters partnerships to enhance services for children, youth, and families. She is deeply involved in expanding the organization's impact, securing funding, and ensuring programs align with community needs.
With a Master of Social Work from Dominican University, Vanessa has extensive experience in social services, previously working as an HIV counselor and health educator. In this role, she provided critical education, resources, and support to individuals while advocating for accessible healthcare services. As a Certified Phlebotomy Technician, she also brought hands-on medical expertise, further enhancing her ability to assist in health screenings, testing, and patient education. Her combined experience in counseling, health education, and phlebotomy allowed her to offer a well-rounded approach to community health and wellness.
Vanessa has a strong background in individual, group, and family counseling, gaining valuable experience during her internship with Youth Crossroads at Morton East High School Counseling Program. In this role, she provided direct support to high school students facing emotional, social, and academic challenges. She facilitated one-on-one counseling sessions, led group therapy discussions, and engaged families in collaborative counseling efforts to strengthen communication and problem-solving skills. Through this experience, Vanessa developed expertise in trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and youth empowerment strategies, equipping her with the skills to support diverse populations in overcoming personal and systemic barriers.
Vanessa is also a Multicultural Latino Alumni, where she has cultivated strong leadership skills to serve as an agent of social change, policy impact, and community improvement. Through this experience, she has developed a deep understanding of how racial and ethnic groups contribute as assets to transformational leadership and collaborative social action. She has also built a cohesive network of leaders dedicated to strengthening communities by fostering intercultural relationships and trust.
Passionate about advocacy and social justice, Vanessa believes in empowering communities through education and collaboration. She is committed to driving systemic change that promotes equity and opportunity for all. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and learning new languages, further broadening her cultural perspectives.