Melonie Perez

Melonie Perez is a Colombian-American woman born and raised in South Providence who later moved down the street to the Edgewood-Cranston area. She is the mother of a 23-year-old son who is currently serving a life sentence at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) for protecting her while she was in an abusive relationship. Because her son was a juvenile at the time of the crime, juvenile sentencing reform is a cause that is deeply personal and important to her.

Having been surrounded by incarcerated individuals throughout her life, Melonie has witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by those impacted by the criminal justice system. Her family members and loved ones have also experienced racism and prejudice in the Washington Park community, making the fight for equality and justice in all aspects of life a lifelong commitment.

Melonie holds a business degree, a real estate license, and a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license, and has spent much of her professional career in the hospitality industry. Today, her passion and purpose are rooted in advocating for her son and others in similar circumstances. Their stories and experiences motivate her every day to fight for meaningful change, advance juvenile sentencing reform, and help create a fairer and more equitable criminal justice system.