Melissa Robinson began her social service career at the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime where she served as the Director of Crisis Intervention, assisting families in navigating the region’s social service and criminal justice systems.  While working for Ad Hoc, she decided to pursue a Masters in Business Administration with the goal of assisting non-profit organizations operate from a business and customer service framework.  

Robinson, a Robert Woods Johnson Fellow, is currently employed with the Black Health Care Coalition as the President. She is responsible for leading the organization to fulfill strategic goals, maintain sustainable community partnerships and play a major role in community efforts that create health equity. Melissa Robinson is leading efforts to address the social determinants of health; ensuring the organization is making a significant impact on reducing health disparities in the areas of hypertension, obesity, infant mortality, diabetes, breast and prostate cancer and childhood asthma.  She is the host of “Voices From Midtown and Beyond”, a radio program that airs weekly on KPRT 1590 AM.

Robinson obtained a Bachelors of Science degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Masters of Business Administration from Webster University in Saint Louis, Missouri.  Robinson received certification as a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Community Health Worker and received her Family Development Credential from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Ms. Robinson has received leadership awards from a variety of institutions and organizations including, Toastmasters International, Environmental Protection Agency, Kansas City Missouri Chapter of the NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Sociatas Doctas, The Independent, and Health Literacy Missouri.  Melissa was also named a “Top Forty Under Forty” by Ingrams Magazine. 

Robinson formerly served on the Public Improvement Advisory Council (PIAC) and the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City Community Advisory Committee. Ms. Robinson is also the former Board President for Kansas City Public Schools. Robinson is committed to ensure all children have access to a globally competitive education.  Her focus is high student expectations, classroom focused finance, parent leadership and community engagement. Robinson is the mother of two boys Jeffery and Brooks Johnson.  Jeffery is nine and Brooks is three years old.  Balancing motherhood and servant leadership has its challenges; however, Melissa is up for the task.  Every day, Robinson is motivated by civil rights leader, Barbara Jordan, “It is a privilege to serve people; a privilege that must be earn and once earned; we have an obligation to do something good with it”.