Melody Chang

Melody Chang is a Community Planner with extensive experience in local government, social sector consulting, and direct service. Before joining CPEX, she worked on criminal justice reform in Orleans Parish, focusing on reducing pretrial detention and eliminating the use of money bail. Melody believes that criminal justice reform and effective city planning are deeply interconnected in building a racially and spatially just future—one where all residents, especially those who depend on public resources and services, are fully supported.

Melody is dedicated to improving public spaces, communications, and services that foster a sense of belonging and mutual investment between governments and communities. Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, she holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in City & Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley, where she specialized in urban humanities. Passionate about creating playful, participatory experiences, Melody seeks to deepen our sense of place and collective responsibility.