Born and raised in South Los Angeles, Giselle Melendez-Cruz is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration (MPA) at the University of Southern California, with a graduate certificate in City/County Management. She has served as an Operations Coordinator at Haven Neighborhood Services, where she managed nonprofit operations, coordinated key projects, and supported economic stability initiatives for marginalized communities across Los Angeles County. Giselle’s professional journey also includes her role as Housing Access and Anti-Displacement Coordinator with the Watts Rising Collaborative, where she led community outreach, developed housing workshops, and connected residents to resources in collaboration with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles. Her work directly impacted over 50 households by providing housing counseling, financial literacy, and eviction defense resources. With a strong commitment to economic and community development, Giselle is dedicated to improving the well-being of underserved communities like her own by promoting access to housing, financial empowerment, and sustainable economic growth. She believes that enhancing the economic quality of life for vulnerable populations is a collective social responsibility that can be achieved through strategic, high-quality services and by maximizing public-private partnerships to advance economic development efforts that create sustainable benefits for communities.