TESTIMONIALS
Christina Chang
Teacher/Member of Equity & Diversity Committee, Burlington High School
“Melissa is “inspiring and talented…able to guide people and validate their beliefs but also challenges them in nonthreatening ways…I love working with her.”
Maggie Sky
Director of Operations Roots & Wings Yoga and Healing Arts
Founder of The Rainbow Peace Flag Project
“Melissa Patrick’s powerful leadership helped change our community. She sees individuals as they are and where they are, while helping them to navigate challenging and very personal topics related to race, class, ability, sexual identity, and gender identity. She has worked tirelessly with people of all backgrounds helping them to better see themselves and understand others. I’ve seen Melissa speak with individuals, lead groups, and speak to large audiences, helping them to enter into brave conversations and make important and necessary relational changes.”
Tony Hagopian
Executive Director URTA
“Melissa’s sessions with URTA staff created a groundwork for the necessary individual and organizational self-reflection and self-evaluation required to continue our journey. She was a great mentor and the process she created for us was extremely impactful.”
Myniece Greenidge
Tufts Health Plan
"Melissa Patrick is that trailblazer. A natural leader, Melissa dedicated countless hours toward improving the lives of my company's community. Under her instruction, and using unique techniques to facilitate sessions, she created exceptional opportunities to bring departments and individuals together to shed light on problems we were having, potential problems we weren’t aware we would face in the future and working solutions to build a strong common ground. I have a strong sense of appreciation for the progress that I was able to see under her leadership and would highly and strongly recommend her for D,E & I support within any organization or community."
Suzanne Kenny
Director of Human Resources, Westborough Public Schools
“Melissa Patrick is a true collaborator with a great intellect and passion for pursuing high expectations…she asks the right questions…is quite skilled at helping each individual look at his/her own assumptions and practices, assisting them as they grow in their understanding and application of what they are learning. … Melissa brings a balance of expertise and experience with an impressive grasp of the complex issues that encompass racial identity development.”
Reema
SEED community group participant
“Melissa is an inspirational leader and educator. Her passion and professionalism is deeply reflected in her commitment to bring out the best in our community.”
Bhavya Chauhan
Law school bound
"Melissa provided me with an extremely effective goal-oriented approach to overcoming personal and professional obstacles. This she did while demonstrating a high level of empathy and sensitization, which made talking with her not only an informative but tremendously gratifying process.”
Dr. Anna P. Nolin
Superintendent, Natick Public Schools
“Melissa Patrick has worked with our district since 2009 providing graduate level instruction for our new staff course on Equity and student success in the classroom. Long before the phrase “lean in” was popular, Melissa Patrick has been helping our leaders and staff lean in to difficult conversations about race, class, culture and the dynamics of self and classroom shaping our school system. Each year, we come to her with requests for revision or tailoring to meet our school system’s constantly evolving goals and needs and without exception, she has responded. On a personal note, when I need it most, Ms. Patrick serves as sounding board and planner on key issues of culturally responsive pedagogy and culturally sensitive communications within our community.”
Becky Moss
Elementary School Media Assistant
“Melissa is at once honest, direct, supportive and challenging. I would welcome any opportunity to work with her again!”
James Liou
Senior Consultant, Education First
“…strong and skilled leadership can make all the difference for the success of the students we serve—whether at the classroom, school, district, state or national level. I believe Melissa is such an individual…”
Guimel DeCarvalho, LICSW, SHRM-CP (she/her/hers)
Director of People and Culture & Chief Diversity Officer, Wayside Youth & Family Support Network
“Melissa Patrick worked with Wayside to train our staff on learning how to have courageous conversations and provided individual intensive training for some staff. These efforts helped Wayside have a secure base for our future work. We appreciated her help setting us up for a fine start to work where we will always strive to grow.”
Heather Starkel
3rd/4th grade teacher
“Melissa has been an integral part of my personal and professional growth… I am indebted to her for her wisdom, her patience, and her willingness to push me towards a more equitable classroom and, ultimately, a more equitable society.”
Paula Thoms
Associate Head Coach, Cornell University Women's Rowing
“Melissa Patrick has a skillful ability to listen and engage with people. After our brief conversation, I felt empowered to continue learning and reflecting on ways to become more consistently anti-racist, while also leading others around me to do the same.”
Elli Stern
former Co-Coordinator of IDEAS
“Melissa Patrick has been providing high quality professional development in school districts and communities for over 15 years. … She is extremely attentive…and works hard to provide the type of program that best meets the needs and goals of the group.”