“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me", Philippians 4:13"

It is this very verse that explains Mellisa Brathwaite’s strength, drive, and determination to ensure future generations of her community are not lost to government statistics and negative stigmatisms. Mellisa began her career in 2001 as a paraprofessional for the Montclair, NJ Board of Education, teaching children diagnosed with Autism. In that role, she gained extensive experience in Applied Behavioral Analysis. In 2007, Mellisa moved on to work in the private sector as a facilitator, teaching parenting and anger management classes for at-risk teenage parents and adults. It was during this experience she realized the adults who were in her classes were dealing with challenges they had been experiencing since their adolescent years, and these adults had inadvertently passed this burden on to their children. She immediately understood that there was a void in the development process of teenagers in her community. She decided that she would do all that she could to fill that void so that these teenagers would not become the very adults that were enrolled in the classes she facilitated. In 2008, Mellisa embarked on one of her most profound experiences when she visited Nigeria. It was during this trip that she realized how she was going to fill that void. She remembered the positive impact she had on the teenage parents and also spent that time reflecting on her own personal experience of not understanding who she was, not forgiving and forgetting her hurtful past, and not truly learning to love herself first. It was during this time in Nigeria that 8 Steps to a New You was born. Mellisa Brathwaite's prayer is that millions of people will be touched and their lives will be transformed by implementing the skills learned in this book . Mellisa continues to inspire many with her soon to release book, "OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND SPEAK" and her 2nd edition to " 8 STEPS TO A NEW YOU."

Mellisa also has created her own movement called, "I AM NWANYIOMA," which means ( PRETTY GOOD WOMAN). This movement she inspires ladies to speak out, stand up and shout out they are pretty. In 2012 she will host the first ever in US " I AM NWANYIOMA PAGEANT."

Mellisa is an inspiration to many and will continue to transform the lives many of across the world. Through all her writing and movements, Mellisa wants to plant a seed into many lives so they can continue to grow into the pe