(Article courtesy of Brenda Ault, EDA Specialist, East Grand Forks Economic Development Authority)
Today I am talking with Melody Hedden, she is the new Chief Executive Officer for Tri-Valley Opportunity Council! She has an amazing story and is a woman of determination, courage and resolve with a strong strength of character.
She was born and raised in a small town in North Carolina. She grew up in poverty relying on services Community Action Agencies offered. She shared how her family would close off most of the house and sleep in the living room during the winter months to stay warm or pretending to campout when the power was turned off due to lack of payment. Her father struggled with alcohol addiction and killed himself when she was 12. Her mother struggled raising three children on her own.
Melody had children of her own but it would seem the black cloud called poverty followed her into her adult years. It was in June of 1999 that she began working for a program designed specifically to assist families to become self-sufficient. And she used that grit and determination to start to climb her way out of poverty.
“I recall the moment I knew that I needed to break the cycle of poverty for my children. I was at work and still qualified for public assistance. I went home and began to work on my resume. I didn’t have much of an education, but Tri-Valley took a chance on me, and I relocated from North Carolina here to Minnesota. With their support I earned my master’s degree as I worked. One of my favorite memories after relocating is writing a check for a medical bill. I wrote that check with tears streaming down my face full of pride for how far I had come. It was at that moment; I knew that I had broken generational poverty for my children”.
“I relocated to Minnesota to work for Tri-Valley in 2014. In 2023 I felt the south was pulling me back to my friends and family, so we moved to Kentucky where I continued my mission on poverty working as the Head Start Director at Western Kentucky University.
I knew in my heart that Crookston was my home. The small rural town had really taken up residency in my heart, and I wanted to get back somehow someday. That day would come December 1st of 2025 when I started working as the CEO for Tri-Valley. The sense of community, kindness and support are what make rural living so uniquely amazing”.
Tri-Valley is a Community Action Agency. The Community Action Program was established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as part of the War on Poverty initiative with the goal to empower low-income communities by providing resources and support. These resources and support are given out through Community Action Agencies.
Tri-Valley offers Head Start & Early Head Start, Migrant Education Program, Midwest Migrant Education Resource Center, Transportation Programs, Senior Programs, Community Services, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Emergency Services, Supplemental Nutrtion Assistance Program Outreach, Financial Literacy, Child Care Aware, MNsure Information and Multi-Family Housing. To learn more about these programs please visit them at Services – Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc.
These programs play a crucial role in reducing poverty and improving quality of life. Tri-Valley is able to do this by focusing on the local needs and fostering community engagement.
Tri-Valley has been operating services in West Marshall, West Polk and Norman counties since 1965. There are 34 staff at the EGF Head Start Center and 6 staff at the Community Services office.
Melody and her husband have seven children, ten grandchildren and two dogs. When she is not at work she enjoys camping, driving their side by side atv or just hanging out with family and friends. Her motto: Love, laughter, relationships and yummy food are what makes life worth living!
Melody it was a pleasure learning more about Tri-Valley!
They are located at 1424 Central Ave NW; phone number is 800-201-3475.
Melody was a pleasure!
Brenda Ault, EDA Specialist