Melanie Powell Robinson - Revisioned Connections

Melanie Powell-Robinson serves the St. Louis region through her dedication to community engagement and advocacy for equity and inclusion both professionally and socially.

Melanie’s dedication to community advocacy began in elementary school but took hold right after her graduation from Metro High School while attending college. As an active member of a student alliance group at St. Louis University, Melanie began to understand the true meaning of civil unrest and learned how important a community’s voice could be. In an effort to garner support and show local and national discontent with social issues around race and equity, Melanie and several classmates organized a campus candlelight vigil which was attended by hundreds. Later, along with other members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Melanie became particularly passionate about eradicating issues plaguing financially distressed communities in the city. Many Friday evenings, she and her Sorors could be found in the Walnut Park community encouraging drug dealers to reconsider their profession by marching and chanting in front of their homes. She became a very vocal activist against actions and philosophies that limit the rights of minorities and began dedicating her time to advocate for the social, emotional, physical and financial health of children in the area.

Melanie continued to fight for the underserved and underrepresented by sitting on boards and committees in the St. Louis area. Major causes she has recently championed by giving time, committee membership and money include working with the St. Louis Crisis Nursery which helps provide temporary shelter for children in danger of abuse; Let’s Start whose mission is to help lower the recidivism rate of paroled women; Sista Strut Breast Cancer Walk which donates money to organizations for cancer research and Every Step Counts which provides services to victims of sexual abuse.

Melanie led a diversity non-profit as Executive Director managing all aspects of the organization’s operations, fund development and communications. She was able to provide leadership during two major organizational transitions and implemented new branding and publication initiatives.

As the Executive Director of Communications, Marketing and Engagement for Riverview Gardens School District, Melanie worked to create and maintain a positive perception of students in the district. By working with reporters, community groups, non-profit organizations and local business, she promoted student successes and highlighted their accomplishments and talents. Melanie created and implemented marketing strategies for internal and external stakeholder groups and was responsible for information distribution through print, social and visual media. Her goal was to make sure all community members know why “It’s a great dayto be a Ram!”

Melanie currently works as an executive coach, internal communications and equity consultant for individuals and organizations through her company Revisioned Connections. In addition, she partners closely with consultants who support efforts to shift organizational culture and build team alliances for all groups, especially those with traditionally marginalized voices. Through consulting and coaching, Melanie has worked with some of the most dynamic leaders whose organizations serve the physical and emotional needs of the community in the region.

Melanie Powell-Robinson has a B.S. in Psychology from St. Louis University and M.A. in Management and Leadership from Webster University. 

Melanie currently serves as co-chair on the Board of Directors for Forward Through Ferguson and has served in multiple volunteer positions with nonprofits in the region. She has been recognized by many of the organizations she is associated with including Young Professionals Award by the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Professional of the Year by the Missouri School Public Relations Association.

She is married to Terrell Robinson and has two children, Taryn and Taj.