Melissa Sills (she/her) is a white mother of four BIPOC children and a professional actress in
film and television. After a successful acting career in Tokyo and Los Angeles, her focus shifted
to full time motherhood and she moved to Newburyport in 2017 to be closer to family and for the
nationally recognized public education in Massachusetts. Melissa sees in Newburyport a
community with a rich history that can come together to create a safe space for all its residents
and those looking for an inclusive place to call home. While the physical safety of her own
children inspired her engagement with the DEI, she hopes to keep the conversation toward
empathy and thoughtful reflection on institutional racism alive. In her freetime Melissa likes to
spend quality time with her family and friends, exercising, and hiking.