Melisa Vierra was born and raised in Santa Cruz County and is a 9th generation Santa Cruzan, with deep family roots in the area, going back to the Spanish land grants. 

After graduating from UCSC with a major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Sociology, she started a family. As a single mom, she found a way to support her family and give back to the community by working at Families In Transition. She started as a Program Coordinator in 1999 and is now the Executive Director. Her favorite pastimes are spending time with family, gardening, and exploring ways to join her passion for the environment with equitable housing options, such as small dwellings and alternative communities.