Melissa L. Sanchez
Music Background
- Co-Owner and Producer — Emergence Productions
- Entertainment Coordinator – Gathering of Nations
Administrative Background
- Production Coordinator – Miss Indian World Pageant
- Artist
- Social Media Community Manager
City of Residence
Acoma & Laguna Pueblos
Commission term
ended May 6, 2012
Bio
Melissa who is from the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna, is an advocate of cultural empowerment through Native American contemporary and traditional performing arts. As an event producer, her unique industry experience includes; public relations, film and radio, national Native American music/book sales, casino entertainment manager, Americans for Indian Opportunity Ambassador Alumni and Rock Your Mocs event producer. In 2001, she, and musician/children’s book author Emmett “Shkeme” Garcia (Santa Ana Pueblo), established Emergence Productions which specializes in talent buying/booking, event production, artist management, and youth cultural empowerment. An EP objective is to create opportunities for entertainers to connect with diverse audiences, while simultaneously creating positive awareness of modern day Native America. From 2002-2004, as the Entertainment Manager at Sky City Casino Hotel, Melissa Sanchez received national media attention by developing the “Emergence Performance Series,” a year round concert event featuring extraordinary talent of Native America.
Also an artist, Melissa has created a popular line of greeting cards featuring contemporary original Native American Pueblo Pottery Art. The line includes Christmas, Valentines, All-Occasion, Prints and Gift Items. As a keynote speaker and presenter, Melissa shares life experiences of self empowerment and the importance of a cultural foundation including language, education and community responsibility. Melissa has traveled to New Zealand, Spain, Singapore, Canada and throughout the United States advocating & producing events.