Melody has volunteered and worked with over 25 non-profits over the past 8 years by raising awareness, educating, and fundraising for non-profits that are helping and empowering women, children, animals, and the environment.


SOCIAL JUSTICE & HUMAN RIGHTS  (selected)

MISSSEY INC.  (Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting, and Serving Sexually Exploited Youth) - 10 years, 2009 - 2019
  • Wish-list Volunteer Leader (June 2010 - June 2011)
  • Collected donations and organized fundraising for general hygienic necessities for the victims at MISSSEY.
  • 1 year training to work with victims of child exploitation/human trafficking.
  • Made an award winning short documentary called “SACEY/SPA” broadcasted part of it on CNN.
  • Raised over $2000 donations for MISSSEY.
  • Filmed protests and fundraising events for MISSSEY
  • Helped wrapping presents and preparing events during holiday seasons every year
  • Made awareness in her community and school about exploitation and child trafficking of children in ​     ​       
  •  Oakland/San Francisco Area
MISSSEY is a project based out of Alameda County that was created to respond to the epidemic of the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the San Francisco/Bay Area. 
Website: www.misssey.org
LA STOP THE TRAFFIK - 3 years, 2013 -2016 
  • Organized events throughout the year to stimulate awareness and understanding about the issue, as well as to engage others to take a stand against such breaches in human rights. 
  • Fundraised for non-profits that help victims of commercial sexual exploitation and labor trafficking. 
  • Collaborated with other student groups, non-profit organizations and businesses, to raise funds for organizations that directly engage in rescuing victims from the trafficking trade or that help victims to recover and re-establish themselves in the community within a safe environment.
LA Stop the Traffik is a student-run, non-profit, Active Communities Against Trafficking (ACT) group at UCLA, which advocates for an increase in community awareness on the exploitation involved in human-trafficking.
Website: ​https://lastopthetraffik.wordpress.com/
UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) - 1 year, 2013 - 2014
  • Photographed events in Los Angeles. Pictures were featured on the Unicef website.
  • Archived fundraising and educational campaigns.
  • Melody Miller was honored the Global Citizenship Award from UNICEF for her dedication and help.​​
The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work, and other efforts in support of the world's children, through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. 
Website: www.unicefusa.org
Mindful Music and UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior - 7 months, November 2017 - May 2018
Worked on a film to engage and uplift children who are fighting short term and long term illness, using a participatory live music session. The video focuses on the children's bravery, strength, positivity, and beautiful personalities that never give up. The project is for the Mindful Music program, the Stephen & Kate band, and the UCLA Medical Center's Pediatric Unit.

About the organization:
Mindful Music is a non-profit organization, founded to raise awareness about the power of music on mental health and well-being.
Website: www.mindfulmusic.semel.ucla.edu
Building Futures with Women and Children - 6 months, 2008-2009
  • ​Filmed and Edited a documentary about BWFC to reach out to women & children under domestic violence
  • Raised $300 for BFWC 
  • Created awareness about Domestic Violence in Alameda County 
  • Recruited volunteers for BWFC from San Leandro High School
Building Futures' mission is to build communities with underserved women and children where they are safely and supportively housed, free from homelessness and family violence.
Website: www.bfwc.org

ANIMAL RIGHTS (selected)

www.nevercrywolfrescue.com
Never Cry Wolf Rescue - 1 year, 2009-2010
​By working closely with Never Cry Wolf Rescue & Adoptions founder Sam Blake, a compassionate veteran who rescues and rehabilitates wolves across the country, I created two short award-winning documentaries about protecting wolf and wolf hybrids. 

The documentaries raised awareness of the challenges wolves face to stay in existence and to educate the public of the myths and poor treatment of these beautiful animals in the United States. The Alpha wolves accepted me as a friend into their wolf pack and allowed me to get close to film them. I worked respectfully for a year, documenting the rescue and nurture wolves and wolf-hybrids that have been abused or abandoned.

Awards:
- Audience Award for Best Documentary Short  at the Riverside Saginaw Film Festival
- 1st Place Best Documentary at The Palo Alto Humane Society Film Contest  
- Honorable Mention Best Documentary at the 3C Media Solutions Student Film Festival 
​
Oakland Zoo - 6 months, 2011
  • Observed and photographed 42 different animal species: mammals, primates, birds, reptiles, & amphibians.
  • Made an educational documentary about African Pygmy Hedgehogs featured on the zoo website.
  • Animal managing, caring, feeding, cleaning, training, and providing enrichment for the animals.
  • Completed an animal management course for certification
The Oakland Zoo has been serving the community since 1922 in locations all across Oakland, finally settling in Knowland Park. A center for wildlife conservation.   
Website: www.oaklandzoo.org 

​The Dog Cafe - Photographer - 2017
  • Photographed puppy portraits, puppy holiday portraits, guests interactions with the ​puppies, and merchandise pictures. 
The Dog Cafe’s mission is to revolutionize dog adoption by reinventing the way people connect with rescues who need homes. 
Website: www.thedogcafela.com​

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY (selected)


​The Pachamama Alliance - 3 months, 2009
  • Assisted with events by helping set up, breakdown, and manage guests at yearly fundraisers.
​
Pachamama Alliance is a global community that offers people the chance to learn, connect, engage, travel and cherish life for the purpose of creating a sustainable future that works for all.
Website: www.pachamama.org

Center for Biological Diversity - 3 months, 2008
  • ​Created a short PSA for Biological Diversity that won 2nd Place for PSA/Documentary at the Laney College Film Festival Real Life Club Awards.
​
The Center for Biological Diversity works to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. By using science, law and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that species need to survive.
Website: www.biologicaldiversity.org

EDUCATION (selected)


​Camp Reel Stories - Cinematography Professor - summer, 2017
  • Mentored young girls in filmmaking. 
  • Developed and taught a hands on cinematography production workshop.
Camp Reel Stories is a non-profit organization that empowers young women with the skills to create their own media, to view current media critically and thoughtfully, and to aspire to leadership in their field.
Website: www.campreelstories.com
UCLA Extension - Assistant to Production Workshops- summer, 2017
  • Mentored and trained students in professional industry standard set protocol. 
  • Teaching composition and the tools used in how these elements work together in order to serve story.
 
​Global Cinematography Institute - Assistant to Production Workshops - 3 years, 2013 - 2016
  • Assisted with technical support for conducting camera evaluations during classes.
  • Shot promotional photography and documentaries.​
The Global Cinematography Institute (GCI) is devoted to education of cinematographers and their extension into the digital and virtual realms.
Melody has also worked, volunteered, or documented with bellow organizations:
 © Melody C. Miller, All Rights Reserved 2021