Melissa Mateo is a graduate of Occidental College where she studied Urban and Environmental Policy. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Melissa is deeply passionate about prison and police abolition as well as working to build transformative and compassionate communities of healing. Witnessing the violence of incarceration and police through close family members and friends has grounded Melissa’s values in a framework of abolition.

During her time in college, Melissa served as a student organizer through the Student Labor Alliance group on her campus for several years. She brings in her knowledge on campaign strategy and community outreaching. Additionally, she has worked within the food justice field and has a great love for growing food and learning about food systems in LA. Melissa joins the team after volunteering and interning with various departments within DPN. Melissa joins us as an organizer to cultivate spaces of healing with families impacted by incarceration and police violence within our Health and Wellness department.