Melani Estevez was raised in the Monroe Projects. After spending all her life in the limits of her neighborhood, Melani branched out to University Heights High School. With the help of her high school, Melani was able to branch out even further to the school of her dreams: Barnard College. Regardless of where she branches out to, the Monroe Projects will always be home. 
Melani spent the spring semester of her junior year of high school working with a local community center in the Bronx. Having been forced to close, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, New Settlement Community Center was left understaffed and disorganized. Melani spent the last weekends of her spring semester helping New Settlement reopen and be the best it can be for its community. Melani cares about her community and making all resources available to those around her. 

Melani majored in English with a minor in Africana studies. She hopes to be able to use her degree at Barnard to help her community while simultaneously being able to pursue her love for writing and reading.