Melissa is delighted to be debuting in her first production as both co-producer and storyteller, and couldn’t be more thrilled to help bring This Is My Brave to Houston. After growing up in Beaumont, TX, Melissa moved to Austin for almost 20 years, then moved to Houston in 2014. In 1999, 20 years ago today, her best friend Bronwyn took her life. This Is My Brave is allowing Melissa to share her story in honor of Bronwyn and others who were lost too soon. Mental illness is part of Melissa’s everyday life, being diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD. Through lots of hard work and dedication, supportive friends and family, and therapy and medication, she perseveres and tries to live every day to the fullest. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Tim, family and friends, and her best dog friend, Fred. Free time often includes coloring, gardening in the sunshine, dancing to some live music, or relaxing and catching up with a friend. Melissa’s goal for this production is to shed light on mental illness and addiction, inspiring others to share their Brave stories in the hopes to end the stigma.