Meet Melanie!

My Story

Melanie Ashley Morris is a proud second-generation Guyanese American, born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Adelphi, Maryland. Now based in Georgia, Melanie blends her personal mission of service with a strong academic and military background.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (2019) and earned her Master of Business Administration from Clark Atlanta University in 2024. While completing her undergraduate studies, Melanie enlisted in the United States Navy, serving as a Quartermaster. Her two armed security tours in the Middle East deepened her sense of purpose and strengthened her commitment to creating meaningful change.

Driven by compassion and a calling to serve, Melanie founded First Real Chance Corp. with a simple but powerful motive: to leave the world better than she found it. Her leadership is grounded in empathy, resilience, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by underserved communities.

In her free time, Melanie is a creative spirit who enjoys writing literature and poetry, and expressing herself through music.