Meet Melisa, HSCA’s Community Connections Coordinator! Melisa has stepped into the role while Claire is away on parental leave.
If you’ve stopped by HSCA for Monday’s Fresh Routes programming, Neighbour Night or Sip N Chat, you may have already met Melisa. Her work is all about creating opportunities for people to connect, access resources and feel part of the community.
For Melisa, community is about having people you can turn to, laugh with and share common interests with. From community art and food justice to family time and Saturday morning sketches, we caught up with Melisa to learn a little more about the person behind the role.
What is your favourite part about HSCA or the Hillhurst Sunnyside community?
It’s a welcoming and safe space with something for all types of folks. Neighbour Night is my favourite, though.
What does community mean to you?
The folks in your community are the ones you can reach out to when you need a hand, laugh with, share common interests and connect with.
What inspires you?
My family, people who live intentionally and other local artists, including Coach T, Daniel J Kirk, Sharon Stevens and Sharon Fortowsky, to name a few.
Ask me more about...
Art, artivism, community art projects, nutrition and food justice, and my family.
What’s something that recently made you smile?
Gathering with my family, together at the same kitchen table earlier this spring.
What keeps you busy outside of HSCA?
My individual and community art practice, walking and hiking, cooking and social time with friends.
On Saturday mornings, you can usually find me...
Resting, reading or sketching, with a coffee in hand. Then walking in a local park or hiking in the mountains or foothills.
One last thing...
I have had Sunnyside envy ever since I moved to Calgary 28 years ago, so happy to spend my days here and serve this community.
We’re pretty happy to have you here too, Melisa!