Melissa O’Neil is a mom, auntie, poet, and writer.  She spends a lot of time building community, particularly with young people, and believes that the real magic happens when we connect with each other.  Melissa loves spending time with her kids, being outdoors, dance parties, and color-sorting bookshelves.  She has a BA in English and Creative Writing and an MS in Library and Information Sciences and just finished writing her first novel.  She is a Black mom, writer, and activist. She has spent the last 20+ years as an activist, with a focus on social justice, racial equity, and environmental protection. Melissa is the executive director of Roots of Resilience Project, a small, local nonprofit. She lives in Port Townsend with her family.