Melissa Tang
Bay Area Program Director
Melissa (she/her) is passionate about bringing equity to opportunities that connect all young people to the power of the outdoors. Her most memorable outdoor experiences growing up were going to the park next to the library, admiring the waves at Ocean Beach, and growing veggies with her grandparents. Being born and raised in SF, Melissa has deep connections to the Bay and a commitment to bring more opportunities to grow & learn outside.
Melissa brings over 10 years of experience leading youth programs that engage diverse communities in the Bay Area. Most recently she's lead a collaborative of 10 community partners that represented diverse neighborhoods in SF for the Mayor's Youth Employment and Education Program. She's also engaged youth with the outdoors at Enterprise for Youth's Environmental Stewards Programs, CommunityGrows, and at the California Academy of Sciences.
Melissa completed the Youth Outside Rising Leaders Fellowship to deepen her practice in cultural relevancy and social justice. She also holds a BA in Geography and Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara and a Master of Nonprofit Administration from the USF.
During her time off Melissa loves to explore the farmers market to inspire her next dinner menu, connecting with friends and family over food, biking, hiking and gardening. She also loves to travel to off-the-beaten-path locations and always looking for an adventure.