Hello! I’m Melissa Taylor, and I’ve been a resident of Monrovia for seven years. Growing up in a Navy family, I’ve had the opportunity to live all over the country, though much of my life has been spent in Virginia. My husband and I are proud parents of two daughters enrolled in the MUSD school system. Additionally, our two dogs, Pepper and Daisy, add much excitement to our lives.
When we first moved to Monrovia, it was an entirely new experience. From the moment we arrived, we immediately knew we had discovered our new home. Monrovia’s charm, diversity, and strong sense of community instantly resonated with our young family.
Starting anew in Monrovia without family or friends nearby, I immersed myself in volunteering for causes close to my heart. I became deeply committed to advocating for social justice issues full-time and haven’t looked back since.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your origin story. Where were you born and did you grow up here? Share a little about your childhood and your family.
Having not grown up here, I often feel jealous when encountering those who have spent their whole lives in Monrovia. I was born in Arizona and crisscrossed across the country over the years. I’ve lived in Virginia, Oregon, Illinois, Arkansas, Florida, and finally, California, officially and finally home base. Moving around a lot had its bonuses, e.g. friends, exploring, etc., but it was also traumatic in its own way to pack up and start over again and again. We are so grateful to have found this community and know that we will be here for the long haul.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Just as we are ever-evolving, so is my career. I have been a retail buyer for Dillard’s and worked in HR for a recruiting company. I then pivoted to go back to school to get my Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning: I was concerned with the sprawl that was taking over and wanted to be more involved in making smarter planning decisions. This journey led me to diverse roles: a public policy issues researcher at the University of Florida, a local community organizer, and even an exploration into politics. Eventually, I circled back to research, now focusing on gun violence prevention. Throughout these shifts, what resonates most with me is the ongoing process of learning and refining policies to ensure equitable access to a healthy environment, safeguarding our children, and enhancing our existing knowledge.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Moo Moo Mia and The Diplomat.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community? Tell us about your favorite memory or experience living in Monrovia.
I’ve lived here for seven years, and I have to say my favorite experience is the Monrovia Days weekend. I love going with the whole family and knowing that I will run into several friends. I love that there are so many activities in the community to do with family. Monrovia won us over immediately because of the city’s effort into events for the community.
Q: None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person you’ve met here in our community who helped you get to where you are or inspired you?
Mary Ann Lutz has been my guiding light since I moved to Monrovia. I met her shortly after I moved here as I was looking for ways to become more involved in the community. As someone who has done so much for the community, she was a wealth of knowledge of programs, organizations, and ways to get more involved regarding issues that are important to me. I am forever grateful for her guidance and friendship.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Am I going alone? If I’m going alone, New York City. Am I going with my husband? Probably Greece, as we went years ago to celebrate graduating, and I would love to go back and explore more. Am I going with my kids? I’d love to go on an African safari with them so they could explore the world.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies of all time? Do you have a favorite TV show or shows?
It’s a cult favorite, but Empire Records. As far as TV Shows, I love Ted Lasso and Schitts Creek. There was so much going on in the past few years that watching TV focused on the good side of humanity with comedy was necessary. I used to like more drama-focused shows, but I am finding that I can only handle that in bits and pieces.
Q: What advice would you give to people? Do you have a Life Lesson quote?
“You do not have to be fearless; doing it afraid is just as brave.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
I feel so blessed in life to have experienced so many opportunities. I consider myself incredibly lucky, but I’d love one day to speak at my alma mater.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what music to listen to?
That’s like asking me to pick my favorite child! When I can’t decide, and it depends on my mood, I usually pick The Killers, Tom Petty, The Cars, or Taylor Swift. But truly, the list is endless.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Kattywompus and Dream Big were the first businesses we found when we moved to Monrovia. They both hold such a special place in my heart, and I am glad we have new opportunities in town, but they are both greatly missed.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I would love to have lunch with Margot Robbie and thank her for creating the Barbie movie. I’d take her to London so we could split nachos and celebrate the movie’s message.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Monrovia or something unique about our community that you like?
I love the mountains. As we drove into town on our first day, I felt an incredible peace because of the mountains. They still take my breath away once a week when I stop to look at them.
Q: Sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you’ve ever made?
Oh, I don’t know if it’s the funniest mistake, but it was a big mistake that taught me to double- check and triple-check. I once booked a flight for an old boss on the wrong day. So when he showed up at the airport, he had no ticket. I promise you that I never made that mistake again.
Q: Even for friends or family, what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I want to be a pilot.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
The Grand Canyon is the first place that took my breath away.
Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
When I ran for Mayor! I may not have won, but I stepped out of my comfort zone. I ran because I wanted to show people there wasn’t a process. You can run if you love this community and want to make a difference. It doesn’t take a formula. I found the entire process to be incredibly rewarding.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A Taylor Swift Concert. My daughters and I were incredibly lucky this summer and got tickets to the Taylor Swift concert at Sofi. I love going to concerts; in fact, concerts were my most missed activity during the pandemic. This was the girls’ first concert and the first time I saw her in concert. I honestly cannot compare her performance to anyone else. She was able to make the entire show interactive, even for the folks like us in the nosebleeds. I would 100% pay to see her over and over again.
Also 10 out of 10 – Laughing with friends, hugs, planting my feet in the sand and letting them sink under the waves, ice cream, and kittens
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My husband. His work ethic, humor, compassion, and thoughtfulness are admirable. I constantly work to be just as good of a person as he is.
Q: If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be?
Universal Healthcare. People need to be able to afford doctors, not be afraid to go to the doctors when they are sick, and most importantly, not be afraid to go because they won’t be able to afford it. So many improvements for everyone would come with this one change.
Q: Finally, what three character traits come to mind when you think of your success in life?
Flexibility, Empathy, and Humor.
