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Melissa S. Zelniker-Presser, Esq. – Fort Lauderdale, FL

Melissa Zelniker-Presser is currently a Managing Attorney for the Broward County branch of the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel. Melissa is the Manager for both the criminal and civil divisions. Prior to her work with the Conflict Office, Melissa was an Assistant Public Defender in Broward County and also worked for Legal Aid Service of Broward County, Inc as a Staff Attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow. Melissa also worked with her husband Shlomi Presser at his firm, The Presser Law Group, where she handled various civil and criminal cases. In 2004, Melissa was awarded the Florida Bar President’s Award of Merit for her work on behalf of foster care children.

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Alexia Nechayev

FYS Events & Meeting Chair
(Palm Beach)

Hello, My name is Alexia Nechayev. I am 25 years old and I am an alumna of Florida International University where I received my B.A. in Psychology. My future career goal is to be a Lawyer. I was in care for about one year from age 17 to 18. Prior to entering care, I only knew about the negative stigma regarding foster care and while in care that narrative was unfortunately my experience.

In school I felt like I was on display because my status in care was broadcast to other students and in my placement behavior was leveraged for “privileges” that should be a natural right of all children. Because I did not know my rights I did not know that what I was experiencing was wrong. Today this is exactly why I advocate, because I don’t want this to be the same for other youth who are experiencing foster care.

This is my second year on the FYS Statewide Board and I’m happy to be the Events and Meetings Chair this year because my main goal through advocacy is to reach as many people as possible. My favorite thing as a board member is to see how comfortable members become while working together. The community needs to know that youth in foster care are real people, going through some of the hardest moments of their life and youth need to know that their voice is powerful. I believe that we have to speak up and bring these issues to people’s attention so that they do not forget us. Advocacy, education and consistency is the only way.

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