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Bridges to Life Staff



Melissa Simon



Melissa Simon joined Bridges To Life in January 2009 as the Director of Development and the Fort Bend County Project Coordinator. Previously, Melissa had volunteered for the Bridges to Life program and assisted with various development-related activities. She coordinates prison projects in the Richmond area.

Melissa was born in Wisconsin but has called Houston home since high school. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University in 1994 and became a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, working with youth in the alternative school and detention center settings in Montgomery, Harris and Ft. Bend counties. In 2001, Melissa received her Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. It was then that she began her work in nonprofit resource development and operations.

Melissa firmly believes that change is possible for everyone. She embraces and supports the concepts in the Bridges To Life program and has seen the changes that can come from surrender to a higher power and relationships with caring individuals.

Melissa and her husband Jeff have four children.

Bridges to Life Book

Restoring Peace – Using Lessons From Prison to Mend Broken Relationships details the principles used in the Bridges To Life program, combined with actual stories from victim and inmate participants. The book is intended for repairing or improving relationships with others.

Victim Comments

“The first thing that victims must do is learn to live again. This program helps them to accept that change and learn to live and trust again.”

Inmate Comments

“The best part about this program is the small group setting which allows both victim and inmate to be open and honest with one another and the trust, confidence that is built through these groups.”