Melissa has served in executive leadership, program and fundraising development capacities in several greater Birmingham non-profit and faith-based entities for 35+ years. Her past roles include being Executive Director of Youth Leadership Forum, Development Director for Birmingham Youth Serve, Training Organizer for AL Constitutional Reform with GBM, and Executive Director of Urban Ministry, Inc. Most recently, Melissa was Director of Community Ministries & Outreach at IPC, where she directed the expansion of food security supports for children at Hayes K8 School in Woodlawn and was inspired and transformed by leading international journeys to Mwandi, Zambia; Chiapas, Mexico; and Nairobi, Kenya, along with relationship building journeys in Wilcox County in Alabama’s Black Belt. Melissa is also a United Methodist minister engaged with efforts to educate and transform people’s understanding of issues related to children and families in poverty, racism, multi-faith dialogue, women in leadership, and all things love and justice.
Joining ACE Alabama feels like coming home for Melissa who helped launch Anytown Alabama 35 years ago. “Returning to the center of my heart’s work - making a positive change for our community and world, hand-in-hand and heart-to-heart with inspiring young people and dedicated adults - gives me great joy. I look forward to working with ACE’s Board, staff, and volunteers as we empower more young people to learn and grow, building community and deepening this movement for cultures of peace, understanding, transformation and flourishing prosperity."
Melissa loves singing, especially the BSC Alumni Choir, hiking, reading, and cooking and eating good food with friends and family. Both her daughters attended Anytown Alabama, and her husband was a staff member.
Kierra Burks ACE Programs Director
Kierra fully understands the value of the programs ACE has to offer as she began her journey with ACE participating in Heritage Panel at her high school. She then participated in Anytown Alabama as a delegate in 2019 then came back to serve on staff in 2022 and as co-director in 2023. Kierra is highly involved in her community as she works with The Transformative Justice Coalition to encourage young people to use their vote, has been a fellow for the Jefferson County Memorial Project, and an active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated. She aims to empower young people to use their voice and make a change in their communities. In her free time Kierra enjoys to read, write poetry, and volunteer to serve her community as she has dreams of becoming a lawyer. Kierra is a proud graduate of UAB and is currently a law student at Faulkner University- Thomas Goode School of Law.
Tonjala Eaton Culture Coach Coordinator
Tonjala Eaton is an educational consultant with over 15 years of experience educating adult learners in both formal and informal settings as a community organizer, diversity trainer, facilitator and educator. She is committed to working with individuals and teams who are focused on creating deeply meaningful learning experiences within their organizations. Tonjala believes that learning is in doing and encourages organizations to embrace active learning concepts. As a former college faculty member, Tonjala has a proven track record of conducting needs assessment, creating curriculum and program design. She now leverages her previous experience to support clients in improving training initiatives through using dialogue education and diverse facilitation techniques. Her background involves working with clients in various sectors such as animal welfare, financial literacy, non-governmental organizations and non-profits. She is passionate about improving conditions related to racial injustice, reducing the wealth gap and family restoration with a special focus on fatherhood.
