Melissa Millar is the Policy Director for Tzedek DC, where she is responsible for leading and facilitating Tzedek DC’s systemic and coalition work related to debt, credit, fines and fees, consumer rights, and related areas at the DC Council, Congress, and other government agencies. She has substantial experience with the legislative and executive branches of the DC government, including having served as the legislative and government affairs representative for DC’s Department of General Services, and as Legislative Counsel and Analyst for three different DC Council Committees.

Melissa also formerly served as the Director of Policy and Advocacy at Community of Hope, where she advocated for improvements in healthcare, homelessness and affordable housing, and equitable treatment of nonprofits. She also served as a Housing Policy Manager in DC, where she collaborated with advocates, officials, and experts to develop and advance affordable housing-related policy.

Melissa, who is a Ward 7 resident, moved to DC in 2005 and earned a Juris Doctorate from the UDC-David A. Clarke School of Law. Melissa is a member of the Maryland Bar and is in the process of waiving into the DC Bar.