Meet Melissa Millender

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Millender and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
A favorite affirmation I have is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” (KJV) In this affirmation, I find that it can be understood or interpreted in a few ways: contentment, endurance, confidence, and assurance. To paraphrase the meaning of this affirmation, it means I have the victory to prevail over any circumstance or situation through Christ. It is through Christ I can see beyond my present circumstances. I can rest in confidence in the truth of Jesus Christ.

The reason why I have chosen this affirmation is because my son who recently passed away in his dorm room on the campus of Azusa Pacific University (APU), and dealt with various health challenges (cerebral palsy, speech impediment, and epileptic seizures) would always quote this verse. The context of this affirmation assured him of the God-given power he had to endure the challenges and obstacles he faced daily. He believed he could persevere because he could do “all things through Christ that gives him strength.”

He learned at a young age he could withstand challenges and any obstacles with the help of God. He learned to be content regardless of his disability, circumstances, and challenges. He sensed daily that God was calling him into a deeper life of contentment, assuring him he could do anything he put his mind to, even when faced with adversity. He knew having a courageous heart was a miraculous thing. Therefore, he embraced everything with bravery. My son rested in the assurance that he could prevail over any health challenge or physical difficulty. Importantly, it was this affirmation that assured him he could rely on God’s strength and power.

The key takeaway from this affirmation is that it is not about personal empowerment. It’s about God’s power, the power God can equip us with to endure any circumstance. Nevertheless, it’s an encouragement that God can give you the strength and power to find contentment in difficult circumstances, no matter what the difficulty looks like. God’s power can transform our hearts and free our minds that have been overtaken by challenges, obstacles, and circumstances.

Alright, so let’s move on to what keeps you busy professionally.
I’m the founder, and visionary behind the establishment of the J.D.M – Legacy of Excellence Foundation, a nonprofit organization. The J.D.M: Legacy of Excellence Foundation was born out of a deep-seated passion for education, academic success, spiritual growth, and edifying the community. It was established in honor of a son, brother, and uncle by the name of Joshua DeShawn Millender who demonstrated academic excellence throughout his academic journey. Our mission is to create opportunities for individuals with a disability, who suffer from epileptic seizures, other debilitating conditions, and those who are at a disadvantage.

The JDM – Legacy of Excellence Foundation is designed with the singular goal of nurturing talent, building confidence, and fostering the excellence of ALL students. Our virtual community is committed to making a lasting impact by providing educational and leadership resources. We hope to empower student leaders of tomorrow by offering a platform for enlightenment and growth. Additionally, we hope to empower ALL students to pursue their dreams with determination, dedication, humility, and resilience. Most importantly, our goal is to encourage students with disabilities to pursue their dreams, they too can make a difference.

It was not easy getting to where I am because the foundation was established in honor of my son who unexpectedly passed away this year, on January 10th, during his second year of college from an epileptic seizure. Establishing this memorial foundation became therapeutic for me as I share the life of a scholar. The purpose is to keep his memory alive and encourage others to pursue academic excellence. Through prayer, and support from family and friends I can move forward with my vision to honor my beloved scholar, Joshua. The healthiest way for me to do this is to surround myself with a support team. Doing this will allow me to process my feelings, even when they continue to be conflicting. It has NOT been easy!

Without question, I found myself suffering from a broad range of difficulties emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. From all of this, I have learned that no matter what it looks like I will be alright. The most important thing I had to learn was to forgive myself for not being there to help my son so that I would not be haunted by guilt. Though I will never get over his traumatic death, instead, I’m growing through it!

The most important thing I want the world to know about my foundation and the memorial honoree: my foundation is dedicated to supporting the leaders of tomorrow in honor of an exceptionally intelligent young man. An individual whose spirit thrived on love, hope, and kindness. So, in honor of the honoree Joshua DeShawn Millender, I want to empower leaders of tomorrow to “Just Believe.”

Lastly, we believe in the power of education to transform lives and are committed to breaking down barriers that prevent talented individuals from reaching their truest potential. Importantly, the foundation is built on the principles of diversity, inclusion, and EXCELLENCE.

Therefore, what keeps me busy professionally is the management of the JDM-Legacy of Excellence Foundation and its website, to ensure that the foundation provides the most relevant, up-to-date resources. Nevertheless, our approach is rooted in quality and integrity, ensuring that everything we do reflects Joshua’s commitment to “Excellence.” Every step we take is aimed at creating meaningful connections and providing exceptional service.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oftentimes friends share some of the same interests, the most exciting places for them to visit are museums, concerts, and finalizing the friend’s stay at church. To show a friend who is in town visiting interesting, memorable places, take them to the various museums (Getty, LA Brea Tar Pits, Museum of Tolerance, etc.). If they want to get away for an entire day take an Amtrak train ride to the Mission San Juan Capistrano. They would need to plan and book ahead of time. Visiting these places requires planning to ensure you have time to visit all the exhibits.

There are many reasons to visit these places, including their historic features, historic sites, natural beauty, and other attractions. All these attractions display permanent exhibits of historical collections of artifacts and paintings. Lastly, If the friends both love great food, plan an entertainment backyard event and have food catered from a favorite place like – Teppan Catering. This place not only provides great food but also an eye-catching show while you watch them prepare the food. Finalize, the stay relaxing on the beach. The time together will be simple, more so, a time of reflection.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shout out?
I dedicate this shoutout to my son Joshua DeShawn Millender, who was a brilliant young man both academically and spiritually with an indelible spirit, dedicated to academic excellence, and determined to overcome difficult challenges.

Website: https://www.jdm-legacy-of-excellence-scholarship-foundation.org/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jdm_legacy2024

Other: Info@jdm-legacy-of-excellence-scholarship-foundation.org

Image Credits
Melissa Millender – founder