Melissa Green

Councilmember Melissa Green is a dedicated advocate for social equity, public health, and community resilience. Elected in 2023 as the first representative of Columbus’ District 6—covering much of the West Side—she also made history as the first licensed social worker to serve on Columbus City Council. Melissa brings a human-centered approach to policy making, shaped by years of experience in direct clinical practice, nonprofit leadership, public health, and policy advocacy.

Throughout her career, Melissa has worked to strengthen Columbus’ communities through systems-level interventions, ensuring that public health, social services, and local government work together to uplift residents. A lifelong harm reduction advocate, she played a key role in shaping Columbus’ response to the opioid crisis. Her efforts expanded access to naloxone, grew the City’s syringe service program, and launched Project LIFE (Limiting Involuntary Fentanyl Exposure), one of the nation’s first government-funded and administered drug-checking initiatives. In recognition of her work, she received the Spirit of Public Health award in 2018.

Beyond policymaking, Melissa is committed to strengthening communities through engagement and service. She has served on numerous boards, including Franklinton Cycle Works, The Art of Recovery, and SAFER Stations. She is a co-founder of both, Songs on Sullivant and the Franklinton vs. Hilltop Charity Softball Game, annual events that, each year, bring neighbors together to celebrate the sense of community, pride, and resilience of Columbus’ West Side.

Melissa holds a dual bachelor’s degree in Communication and Anthropology and a master’s degree in Social Work. A proud Hilltop resident, she lives there with her four-year-old son, Miles, who is a fifth-generation West Sider.