The Ripple Effect: Alexandra
Meet Alexandra Mello!
Alexandra currently works with Union Capital Springfield as a UC Coach. She was introduced to Union Capital two years ago and has been a vital member of Union Capital since.
After participating in the UC Learns leadership program in the Fall of 2024, Alexandra became even more curious about the model and lessons and, with the encouragement and support of the UC family, decided to take a 3-month intensive coach training program with Marshall Ganz’s Leading Change Network, creator of the Public Narrative course at Harvard Kennedy School: “Leadership, Storytelling, and Action” and Founder of the Leading Change Network. Following the UC Learns program and the course taken with Ganz, Alexandra gained coaching, organizing, and public speaking skills, which have helped her in both her personal and professional life. Through this participation, along with participation in Network Nights, UC Clubs, UC Leadership programs, and more, she has been able to expand her network and meet people whom she otherwise would not have. She has been able to find and help build a community that works to uplift and support each other.
Once Alexandra completed the UC Learns Program, Dennis Hicks approached and encouraged her to become a coach for the next cohort. Alexandra accepted the role and has worked with UC as a Coach ever since. Through this role, she has been able to directly impact Union Capital, its members, and the broader community. Alexandra is consistently connecting people in her community with Union Capital and encouraging members to get more involved. Alexandra has also introduced leadership from the community organizations that she works with to Union Capital, further connecting the community with UC. As a UC Coach, she has helped teach others about public narrative and encouraged them to share their stories. People she has coached have gone on to lead their own UC Clubs, become coaches, lead Summer of S.O.L. workshops, and more. Alexandra also helped design and launch the first UC Aprende, the Spanish version of UC Learns, where she also supported and coached Spanish-speaking members. Alexandra’s efforts have helped connect community organizations and members with Union Capital, and her encouragement has inspired others to use their voices and become leaders in their communities.
Not only does Alexandra help support others in sharing their stories within Union Capital, but she also does so in her work. Following her involvement in the UC Learns program and Ganz course, Alexandra introduced the model/course to three of the community organizations she works with.
In the past four to five years, Alexandra has been focusing on community engagement and advocacy. She works as a founding member of the Hampshire County Food Policy Council as their Narrative Coordinator. She also works with the Food Bank of Western Mass and Project Bread as a member of their Community Engagement team. After finishing the UC Learns program and the Ganz course, Alexandra introduced the model to the organizations in the community that she works with, and after hearing her talk about it, the Hampshire County Food Policy Council asked her to present the class/model. Alexandra adapted the respective 10-week and 3-month courses into a 4-week program that was accessible to members of her organization. Due to its focus on advocacy and storytelling that year, her organization was able to create a grant position for her to teach this public narrative course to community members. Through the course, members learned more about public speaking, sharing their story, and public narrative. This boosted the members’ confidence, which showed when the Hampshire County Food Policy Council eventually was able to take members to the State House, where they felt confident speaking in front of elected officials. Alexandra is now sharing her training with all three of the organizations that she works with. Through her course, members of the community now feel more confident in sharing their stories and using their voices to speak up on issues that impact them.
Alexandra is doing incredible work at both Union Capital and in the broader community. Through her efforts, Alexandra continues to encourage and support members of Union Capital, even leading to some students from her program leading their own initiatives within Union Capital and the broader community. She works as an advocate in her community and a source of encouragement for others. Alexandra has helped others become more confident, become coaches/leaders, and share their stories. She has and continues to make important waves in her community!
“That's part of what I try to do. Connect people across organizations who should know about each other.”
