Resilient Hearts Global Foundation is dedicated to empowering children & youth, globally, who are facing adversities, by providing compassion, resources, support rooted in love, & opportunities to thrive. We firmly believe that through resilience, every heart has the capacity to heal & create a brighter future for themselves and those around them.
board of directors
mel rodriguez
Foundation Secretary
Mel Rodriguez is a dedicated volunteer & humanitarian who is passionate about supporting vulnerable communities and advocating for those in need. As a military spouse & mother, she has had the unique opportunity to live and travel across the United States and internationally, experiencing many different communities & cultures along the way.
Wherever she is stationed, Mel makes it a priority to volunteer & work with local organizations, supporting a wide range of populations including military personnel, the elderly, unaccompanied minors, individuals experiencing homelessness & children in special education programs. These experiences have strengthened her passion for humanitarian work & community service.
Mel is currently pursuing her degree in Social Work with a concentration in Human Rights to further her knowledge of human well-being, advocacy & social justice. She hopes to continue inspiring others through her work with Resilient Hearts Global Foundation and to instill the values of compassion, service & community in her daughter as she grows up.
Lucero castillo
Foundation communications director
Lucero Castillo supports Resilient Hearts Global Foundation by helping oversee social media, supporting community initiatives as well as amplifying the foundation’s mission & outreach.
Originally from Mexico, Lucero moved to the United States at a young age, where she learned early on the value of hard work, perseverance & opportunity.
She later earned her bachelor’s degree and built a career focused on service, community support & advocacy. Lucero is passionate about bringing people together, supporting families and youth & helping build strong, compassionate communities through the work of Resilient Hearts Global Foundation.
Her work is rooted in compassion, connection & the belief that when communities come together to support one another – real, impactful & lasting change is possible.
melissa gutierrez, LCsW
Foundation director
Melissa Gutierrez is a Licensed Clinical Master Social Worker with a specialization in mental health who has dedicated her career to supporting migrant children & vulnerable youth. She has worked with the Office of Refugee Resettlement for the past five years, where she provides guidance, support & advocacy for children navigating difficult transitions & new beginnings.
As a migrant herself, Melissa came to the United States as a child with her mother and experienced the journey firsthand, including the many challenges that come with starting over in a new country. Her personal story has shaped her deep commitment to helping others in similar situations and fuels her passion for community service, advocacy & mental health support.
In her leadership role, Melissa is passionate about mentoring others, sharing her knowledge, offering skillful experience & helping build programs that support larger communities. Her work is driven by empathy, resilience & a strong belief that everyone deserves support, dignity & the opportunity to build a better future.
Alejandro Ramirez
Director of project management & operations
Alejandro Ramirez was born and raised in Medellín, Colombia, and moved to the United States eight years ago in search of opportunity and a more secure future. His journey shaped his deep commitment to helping others, particularly immigrant communities & vulnerable youth.
Through his work with community organizations and the Office of Refugee Resettlement, Alejandro supports unaccompanied minors arriving in the United States, providing guidance, resources & compassion during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. He believes every child deserves safety, dignity & the chance to build a better future.
Alejandro earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Mental Health from Stockton University. His work is driven by his personal experiences, his passion for community & his belief that when people are supported and seen, they can truly thrive.
shariany rodriguez, lsw
Foundation Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Shariany Rodriguez is a mission-driven humanitarian leader with over a decade of executive leadership experience across both nonprofit & private sectors. Her work focuses on humanitarian services, policy analysis, advocacy, program development & the care of vulnerable populations, particularly unaccompanied minors & at-risk youth.
She has successfully led and scaled programs, secured cross-sector partnerships & obtained government funding to support community & humanitarian initiatives. Shariany is known for her compassionate leadership, commitment to cultural equity & her strong belief in the dignity and worth of every person.
She holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work with an emphasis in Program Development and Agency Administration. As a former at-risk youth herself, Shariany is deeply committed to using both her personal experience & professional expertise to create meaningful, lasting impact in communities both nationally & internationally.
We need to stop just pulling people
out of the river.
We need to go upstream &
find out why
they’re falling in.
-Desmond Tutu
