About Melissa Cullen
Melissa Cullen of Cranston, RI, has a rich family heritage, with her Sicilian and Italian dad and her Portuguese and Cape Verdean mom. She is also the middle child of a large family of five sisters and three brothers. Melissa has fond memories of her childhood, growing up in Brighton, Massachusetts, until her family moved into their dream home in Newton, MA. Her street was filled with large families, each with four or five children, creating an energetic, close-knit neighborhood that felt like one big extended family.
Melissa Cullen, a Rhode Island resident, has two brothers, Richard and Demetrious. Demetrius, her eldest brother, became a basketball star in the early 1980s, opening the door for Melissa Cullen of Rhode Island and inspiring her to try out for and participate in track and gymnastics. She was also the co-captain of the cheerleading team for two years. Richard Jones, her youngest brother, became a professional athlete and was featured on multiple magazine covers.
There were also some challenging times for Melissa due to the racial tensions in Newton South. As the only black family in the neighborhood, she became uncomfortable when an unexpected racial war erupted.
From Camp Director to Wedding Planning, Interior Design, and Real Estate
Melissa enjoyed her time as a Camp Director. She had spent summers every year at camp with her brothers and sisters from the age of seven and was drawn to making the camp experience special for children. When she was old enough, Melissa started a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program and worked her way up to Assistant Program Director.
She took several courses at Newbury College and Suffolk University in Boston, studying interior design.
Melissa has had a storied career. She has served as a wedding designer and planner, run two different daycare centers, and opened and owned a flower shop called Floral Expressions. She has also worked in home interior design and real estate and helped organize a teen center and camp before focusing on establishing her new nonprofit.
After a successful run in wedding design and the purchase of a few properties, Melissa is committed to giving back and making a difference, including helping people experiencing homelessness.
Melissa’s True Calling
Melissa’s nonprofit organization, Shorelines of Hope, will operate a facility with a soup kitchen and 15 showers. The nonprofit will serve four meals a day to people experiencing homelessness. The operation will be staffed with volunteers on the board of trustees. Melissa is currently filing to open the facility in Rhode Island, where she lives. She aims to help shift the burden of caring for people experiencing homelessness onto her nonprofit, supported by volunteers’ generosity.
With 12 years of experience as a volunteer counselor, Melissa deeply understands the sense of reward and fulfillment that comes from giving her time to help others.
Big Plans Ahead
Melissa also plans to launch innovative campgrounds, named the Shore Adventure Centers, in 2027, to offer all-season sessions focused on inclusivity and meeting the needs of a diverse population, including people with special needs, people with paraplegia, transgender people, etc. Each week’s schedule will be based on the needs of the children and adults. The camp will provide fully trained staff, ADA-accessible grounds, and an indoor and outdoor pool with a lift. There will also be indoor/outdoor eating and shaded cooling stations.
Melissa plans to get the project off the ground in a couple of years, offering a totally free camp to those living in the inner city. Children will have an opportunity to experience a place that will remain in their hearts and minds forever. She is looking for 25 to 30 acres of land in Foster, Rhode Island. Rolling hills and forests characterize Foster, and it has the state’s highest point, Jerimoth Hill. Several ponds, including Shippee Pond, and streams, such as Paine Brook, contribute to the scenic landscape. Foster also has large tracts of vacant land and a rural character, offering ample recreational opportunities and the ideal setting for Melissa’s camp project.
Melissa Cullen plans to raise funds, apply for grants, and seek partnerships with the ASPCA for dog therapy, the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown for internships, and food companies to help support her meal programs.
Melissa is also working on partnerships with various teams to support children from all backgrounds, including a few centered on sports awards and the Special Olympics. In addition, Melissa plans to work with the state police to support lockdown and safety training for staff.
Melissa is dedicated to fulfilling her dream of helping others through her nonprofit and free camps. Her desire to give back is a natural extension of the success she’s already achieved—both personally and professionally. Having reached a place in life where she feels secure and grateful, she’s now turning her focus outward, driven by a deep sense of purpose. Her camps and nonprofit allow her to pour her experience, compassion, and energy into something lasting—something that creates real change.
Currently, Melissa holds patents for two inventions: the Chairliner and the Nite Cap Liquor Top.
