Melissa Cummings

Melissa Cummings joined Young Audiences in January 2012.  Prior to her work with Young Audiences, Melissa most recently served as Chief of Staff to Erie County Legislator and Majority Leader, Maria Whyte.  

Melissa graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College with a B.A. in Spanish, and minors in Political Science and Philosophy.  She is currently pursuing a M.S. in Creative Studies and her thesis work is studying the impact of a creative problem-solving curriculum on at-risk youth.  Melissa’s additional professional experiences include being a translator for the federal government and a Spanish teacher at Great Bridge High School, in Chesapeake, Virginia.  Melissa has lived abroad in Puebla, Mexico and San Jose, Costa Rica.

Born and raised in Buffalo, Melissa has a deep-rooted understanding of the needs of the WNY community.  She has facilitated strategic plans for community groups, including the Partnership for the Public Good, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, the Buffalo Niagara Human Resources Association, and Grassroots Gardens.  She is a founding member of the West Side Youth Violence Prevention Task Force.