Melissa Self Patrick
​Executive Director

Melissa has served in executive leadership, program and fundraising development capacities in several greater Birmingham non-profit and faith-based entities for more than 35 years. Her past roles include: Executive Director of Youth Leadership Birmingham, 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 Kenya, Mexico, and Zambia, along with relationship building journeys in Wilcox County in Alabama’s Black Belt. 
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.Joining ACE Alabama feels like coming home for Melissa who helped launch Anytown Alabama 36 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 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, multi-faith dialogue, and women's leadership.

Melissa loves singing, hiking, reading, and enjoying good food with friends and family. Both her daughters attended Anytown Alabama, and her husband was a staff member. 

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.

Sarah Patrick
ACE Interim Programs Director

Sarah Patrick is passionate about working with young people. She loves helping them grow their self-confidence, form new connections, and find ways to better engage with their community. This passion was first ignited when she was a middle/high school student in Heritage Panel (2013), Anytown Alabama(2015), and P.E.A.C.E. Birmingham (2015-2018). Sarah’s strong commitment to community building and reconciliation led her to study criminal justice, psychology, and liberal arts at The University of Alabama. She holds certifications in Early Childhood Development, social justice leadership, and digital organizing. Sarah has also worked on advocacy and digital marketing with various Alabama non-profits, including URGE Alabama and ACE Alabama. 

​Most recently, Sarah was a preschool teacher,  and in the last year, Sarah was a facilitator for all of ACE’s core programs, including Life Skills Education. In her free time, Sarah practices with the Cahaba River Sangha, a Buddhist community practicing in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. She also loves spending time with her two rescue dogs, reading, baking, and attending various cultural events.  Sarah is excited and committed to furthering ACE’s mission of community building and meaningful dialogue in the greater-Birmingham community, and looks forward to practicing what it means to be a good listener, an engaged community member, and a good neighbor.