CEO in Training: YouthBuild Newark alum steps into her leadership potential

It’s 10 a.m., one hour before the neon “Open” sign glows at Urban Vegan, a new vegan restaurant on Broad Street. Through the windows of the sun-soaked dining area, Melanie Walters zips from table to counter to the back room and back in what seems like the blink of an eye.

Outside of her role as assistant manager, she’s also a mother of two, a business owner, a hairstylist, and a Newark Public Schools teacher’s aide. And she’s always looking for more opportunities to grow and expand her skillset.

“I’m not sitting back waiting for a hand out,” she said. “Give me an opportunity, and I’ll do the rest.”

About 12 years ago, Melanie embraced the opportunity that YouthBuild Newark offered -- a chance to earn a trade and develop herself as a leader. And from that opportunity, Melanie has built a life for her and her family that’s full of possibilities. 

“Melanie is a pure representation of what our programs and schools are designed to do for young people,” said Jasmine Joseph-Forman, Chief Program Officer at Newark Opportunity Youth Network (NOYN).  “Melanie came to us full of potential, with the drive to do something different and to show her sons a different way of life. All we did was help equip Melanie with the necessary tools to strengthen her academic, social-emotional, career and leadership skills. The rest is history.”

While Melanie is thriving today, that wasn’t always the case. In fact, she describes her youth as “reckless.”

“I wanted to fight my way out of everything. I wanted to fight you to love me the way I wanted you to love me. I fought for just about everything, like physically fought for everything,” she said. “People always respected me after I beat them up.”

Though she had their respect in the moment, all her fighting left her feeling alone. When she got pregnant at 16 years old, her mother refused to support her and she grew estranged from many family members. But that only made her want to fight harder to make something of herself and her family. 

“We’re going to be somebody,” she said. “I told my son, ‘You’re going to college.’”

For years, she juggled working for different companies, styling hair and raising a young son. So when she heard about YouthBuild Newark from a friend, she was excited to pursue a career that allowed her to work with her hands. But it was Mental Toughness, YouthBuild’s student orientation process, where she learned the most about herself.

“I had to learn how to be humble because that would have been one of the things that killed me; thinking I know it all,” she said. “I had a big thing with starting things and not finishing it. And honestly, YouthBuild was the first thing I started and completed. And I completed it because of the support that was there.”

Even at graduation, YouthBuild was her family, rooting for her at the top of their lungs. “And that meant a lot,” she said. “They taught me what a real family looks like, and I carry that love and support with me everywhere I go. I know YB’s always got my back.”

Robert Clark, YouthBuild Newark founder and CEO of NOYN said, “The gift of YouthBuild isn’t just for Melanie. It’s what Melanie was able to give to her children through being a part of this program. The power of transformation - first in yourself, then in your family, and finally in the larger community - is what Melanie has been able to do and it’s the very heart of YouthBuild.”

Today, Melanie is the assistant manager for Urban Vegan, and she’s courting managerial offers from IHOP and BK Lobster. And her oldest son is a student at New Jersey City University, making him the first person in Melanie’s family to attend college. 

Melanie is still using what she learned at YouthBuild Newark today, and sharing that wisdom with a new generation of young people. 

“Ms. Jazz had to grab my hand and hold me. Now it’s time to give that same thing back to somebody else,” she said. “You never know how strong you really are until somebody pushes you to be strong.”