We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Melton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.

Ashley , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

When I first decided to start Parenting Pathways, I was fresh out of college with no big savings account, no network, just a heart full of passion and a dream I couldn’t shake. I was still trying to figure out my own life, but something about this vision kept tugging at me. I couldn’t ignore it.

The idea came from a place of seeing how deeply connected a parent’s well-being is to a child’s. I realized that so many cycles of struggle and trauma could be broken if parents just had the right support emotionally, mentally, and in community. That thought lit something in me, and even when it didn’t make sense on paper, it made sense in my soul.

Starting Parenting Pathways was a true risk. I didn’t have investors or big partnerships waiting, just faith, long nights, and a willingness to learn everything from the ground up. I spent hours researching how to form a nonprofit, writing out plans, and slowly connecting with people who believed in what I was building. There were moments I questioned myself, wondering if I was dreaming too big, but I kept reminding myself that something beautiful can still grow from small beginnings.

That risk taught me that purpose doesn’t wait until everything is perfect. Sometimes you have to move while you’re still figuring it out. Looking back now, every risk I took, from launching my first event to sharing my mission publicly, has led to the most meaningful connections and growth.

Parenting Pathways started as a dream, but it’s become a movement rooted in healing, education, and hope. And taking that first leap, even when I had almost nothing, was the best decision I ever made.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Ashley Melton, and I am the founder of Parenting Pathways, a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing the mental and emotional development of children by empowering parents. I was inspired to start Parenting Pathways after realizing how much a parent’s mental health and emotional state directly shape a child’s well-being. So many families carry the weight of unhealed generational trauma, and I wanted to create a space that helps break those cycles by supporting both parents and children together.

Parenting Pathways provides community programs, workshops, and resources designed to strengthen family bonds, improve communication, and help parents build emotional resilience. We connect families with local support networks and focus on giving parents the tools and confidence to care for their own mental health so they can show up fully for their children.

What sets Parenting Pathways apart is that we see the family as a whole system. Instead of separating parent and child needs, we focus on the connection between them, because healing one part of the family helps heal the entire unit. Our approach is grounded in empathy, education, and real community connection.

I’m most proud of the moments when I see parents coming together and supporting one another, or when a parent tells me they felt safe and seen in the space we’ve created. Watching families open up, be vulnerable, and genuinely connect reminds me why I took this leap in the first place. Those moments are proof that healing and hope are possible when people feel understood and cared for.

Parenting Pathways is more than a nonprofit. It’s a movement dedicated to breaking cycles of pain, nurturing growth, and helping families find strength in community.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Building Parenting Pathways has been one of the most rewarding, but also one of the most challenging, experiences of my life. What people often don’t see behind the scenes is that I’m balancing this work while managing a full-time 9–5 job, daily life responsibilities, and the ups and downs that come with trying to keep a dream alive on limited funds.

There have been moments when I felt completely stretched thin — coming home tired but still staying up late to send emails, write plans, or brainstorm how to move the organization forward. There were times I didn’t know how I’d make certain things happen financially, but somehow I always found a way. I got creative, leaned on community partnerships, and my family and friends often pitched in to help me bring ideas to life.

Almost every time I thought about quitting, something would happen to remind me why I couldn’t stop. A parent would reach out asking for help, or we’d receive another heartfelt message or review from a family who felt supported through our programs. Those moments always came right when I needed them most.

What keeps me going is remembering that Parenting Pathways is bigger than me. It’s about the families who need a safe space to be seen, heard, and understood. On the hard days, I think about the parents who’ve opened up during workshops, the ones who’ve told me they finally feel less alone, and it reminds me that every bit of effort matters.

Resilience, for me, hasn’t been about having it all together. It’s been about showing up even when I’m tired, choosing faith when I can’t see the full picture, and trusting that the small steps still matter. This journey has taught me that purpose doesn’t require perfection — it requires persistence, heart, and a belief that what you’re building is needed.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

There have been several resources that have shaped how I think and lead, both personally and professionally. One that really motivated me early on was the She’s So Lucky podcast. Hearing other women share their journeys in entrepreneurship reminded me that I belong in this space too, even when I was still figuring things out. It taught me that purpose doesn’t always come with a roadmap — sometimes you have to just start and grow as you go.

Nonprofit for Dummies was another foundational resource for me. As someone completely new to this world, it helped me understand how to build Parenting Pathways from the ground up. Start with Why by Simon Sinek reinforced the importance of leading with intention and staying connected to the deeper purpose behind everything I do. And while The 48 Laws of Power offered a very different perspective, it reminded me that awareness, strategy, and confidence are just as vital in leadership as compassion.

I’ve also drawn a lot of inspiration from parenting and emotional development books like The Whole-Brain Child, which deepened my understanding of how children process emotions and how parents can guide them through it. Those insights directly influence how I shape our workshops and programs at Parenting Pathways.

All of these resources have helped me grow into a more grounded and intentional leader. They’ve taught me that real impact comes from balancing faith with strategy, and from being willing to keep learning no matter how far you’ve come.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://parentpathwaygr.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/12FaUCH3DiX/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-melton-51a84522a?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Image Credits

Brianna Kilgore -photos of me in pink blazer