22. Melissa Ice | Founder and Executive Director of The Net, Co-Founder and Chief Vision Officer of The Worthy Co | Boldness in Leadership, Filling in Gaps, and Fighting for Justice

Season 2 continues with nonprofit founder and social entrepreneur Melissa Ice. Melissa is the Founder & Executive Director of The Net, a nonprofit that has supported over 1,700 survivors of trafficking, and the Co-Founder and Chief Vision Officer of The Worthy Co., a social enterprise that provides job training and employment for survivors.In this episode, we talk about how Melissa developed a heart for serving others working internationally, and the boldness it took to start The Net in her twenties -- seeing a gap in resources and programming for survivors of trafficking in her own city, and stepping in to fill it . She shares her journey of building a nonprofit from the ground up, the lessons she’s learned about leadership and impact, and why social enterprise is a powerful tool for change. Melissa also shares about her experiences befriending those of different cultures and backgrounds out of love and curiosity, and the profound impact this has had on her life, career, and legacy.We talk about discerning purpose, the power of "you don't know what you don't know," and investing in the place where you live -- to leave it better than you found it.Connect with Melissa:The Net: thenetfw.com | Instagram The Worthy Co: worthy-co.com | InstagramInstagram: @melissaiceCreated by Julia LightSubscribe to Tears & Joy on Substack: tearsandjoy.substack.comFollow Tears & Joy on Instagram: @tearsandjoyCover Photo by Audrey Spiars | Music by Andrew WardRecorded at Hephzibah House NYC