The Spokane branch of the NAACP has marked a historic milestone with the appointment of Dr. Melissa Mace as its first-ever Executive Director. For Mace, a social worker, community leader, and military dependent who grew up in Medical Lake, the role is more than a title – it is the fulfillment of family legacy, professional dedication, and a deep commitment to community building.
Mace’s roots in the Spokane area run deep. Her father’s service in the U.S. Air Force brought the family to Fairchild Air Force Base when she was a child. Living both on and off base, she experienced a blend of military life and small-town Spokane upbringing, attending schools in Spokane and Medical Lake before graduating and pursuing higher education at Eastern Washington University. There, she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work before building a respected private practice, Discovery Counseling Group, now in its 16th year. In 2022, she completed her Doctor of Social Work with a dissertation exploring the experiences of Black women in leadership across the diaspora.
That research, combined with her professional and personal journey, shapes her vision for what leadership and solidarity can look like in Spokane. As Mace puts it, “I want us to live in our greatness. I want us to see that we are great no matter what we do. You can be a doctor. You could not be a doctor. You could be the best dental hygienist in the history of the world … you can do and be whatever.” Her commitment is to cultivate a culture where all forms of Black excellence are recognized and celebrated with intention.
As she steps into this new leadership role, Mace carries both the lessons of her professional path and the traditions instilled by her family. Her grandparents and great-aunts, who endured segregation and the struggles of Black life in Indiana, shared stories that continue to shape her worldview. “My grandma talked about her history and her growing up all the time,” she recalled. “She was secretary of her chapter in Indiana, and I’m like, oh my gosh, how exciting. I get to be a part of our family tradition of change and being change makers.”
Her vision for the Spokane branch centers on both honoring this legacy and forging new paths of collaboration and solidarity. “I want us to dive into our history and understand where the disconnect happened, reclaim it, and move forward. And any way that I can be a part of that change, I’m here for it,” Mace explained.
At the same time, she is keenly aware that the work of an Executive Director requires more than inspiration; it requires execution. She brings experience in organizational leadership, program development, and mental health practice – skills that position her to build systems of accountability, sustainability, and growth for the branch. “I am nothing without those who walk beside me and assist me to build and develop things,” she emphasized. “I have a fantastic, I love to build and develop, but I am nothing if I don’t have a good team.”
The significance of Mace’s appointment is shared by Lisa Gardner, a Spokane native who also walks in her grandmother’s legacy of service as the current president of the Spokane branch. Gardner spoke with pride about this next chapter:
“I am thrilled about this major milestone for our organization as we welcome our first Executive Director. This important addition to the NAACP will enable us to expand our efforts and increase our impact in the community.
The decision to hire an Executive Director reflects our commitment to advancing our mission of promoting social justice, civil rights, and equality for everyone. Under the leadership of Dr. Melissa Mace, we are confident that we will enhance our programs, broaden our outreach, and rally our community to address the urgent issues that impact us all.
I invite everyone in our community to join us in welcoming Dr. Mace and to stay involved as we begin this exciting journey toward a brighter future.”
Together, Mace and Gardner represent both the generational legacy and forward vision of the NAACP in Spokane. Mace hopes to lead the branch into a new era of visibility and impact, reconnecting the NAACP with Spokane’s Black community and strengthening ties across the broader region. “I hope that people see the NAACP as a place of service. A place that always shows up for them, a place that they feel heard, seen and supported,” she said.
For Mace, the opportunity is both personal and historic. “I was so utterly grateful for the opportunity,” she reflected. “I hope I honor those who came before me every day in the work that I choose and the work that I’m going to do. And I hope that I lay the foundation for generations to come.”
With her blend of personal history, professional expertise, and strategic vision, Dr. Melissa Mace is set to usher the Spokane NAACP into a new chapter – one rooted in legacy, service, and a bold commitment to community transformation.