Melissa Luong is a Senior Strategist at Grassroots Solutions since 2025. She is a researcher and evaluator who centers participatory and community-driven methods of knowledge production. She is particularly passionate about leveraging her research and evaluation skills as tools for strategic learning for social movement and community organizing partners. Inspired by the practices of critical educators such as Paulo Freire, and bell hooks, Melissa orients her evaluative practice through a lens of learning as a process for transformative change and participatory democracy.

Prior to joining Grassroots Solutions, she has worked in evaluative and learning capacities for philanthropic partners and grant-makers in both external and internal roles across a variety of health equity, climate justice, community organizing, and policy-change initiatives. Melissa received a Master’s of Public Health in Health Behavior from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a Bachelor’s of Art from Binghamton University.

Melissa loves gardening and finds joy in unearthing a bucket full of homegrown potatoes, growing a variety of tomatoes, and nurturing bok choy. She also loves eating and trying new restaurants.