MELODY SHORT

COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE MANAGER

Melody (She/Her) hopes to foster strong and meaningful connections between Runway and all stakeholders (entrepreneurs, investors, etc.), create spaces of collaboration, design and implement innovative programming and create community engagement opportunities.

Melody Joy Short is a small business advocate, entrepreneur and community builder. As a trusted source to entrepreneurs nationally, she assists creatives, makers and small business owners navigate their entrepreneurial journey, pairing them with resources to assist with the launch, development and growth of their business. Melody’s work is fueled by her belief that entrepreneurship is a path to freedom for Black folk and to that end, her work is rooted in curating safe spaces that center Black entrepreneurs and creating access to social and financial capital to reach the goal of liberation.

Melody is the Co-Founder of the Richmond Night Market, where she supports small business owners and independent artists in areas to include public relations, marketing and business development. She is the former Director of Marketing and Business Development for the largest collection of Black-owned Inns in the United States, Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast Inns.  As the Community Experience Associate, Melody continues the “heartwork” of serving entrepreneurs by leading the growth of the community engagement strategy at Runway.

A graduate of the Earl Graves School of Business at Morgan State University, Melody proudly serves her hometown of Richmond, Virginia as a Board Member and supporter of the Afrikana Independent Film Festival, ChamberRVA, CultureWorks and the Valentine Museum.  Melody finds joy hosting family & friends at her home, obsessing over hand-made jewelry & home decor items found at outdoor markets, visiting wine country & traveling with her 15 year old daughter.

“We cannot create what we can't imagine.”― Lucille Clifton