Lori Mellinger

Lori Mellinger is the Training Program Manager at Faces & Voices of Recovery, where she leads strategic initiatives to expand capacity for recovery-centered organizations across the country through training and technical assistance. A member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Lori’s work is profoundly shaped by her lived experience in the Texas criminal legal system, where she was incarcerated as a result of substance use disorder and mental health challenges. She is also a committed abolitionist.

Now in long-term recovery, Lori has transitioned from direct service to leadership roles within the nonprofit sector, focusing on reentry, recovery, and mental health. She brings a wealth of expertise in program management, grant writing, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning. Her career has included roles such as Education Program Director and Reentry Program Director, where she developed impactful programs and led efforts to support justice-involved women. A co-founder of Lioness: Justice Impacted Women’s Alliance and a graduate of JustLeadershipUSA’s Leading with Conviction™ program, Lori is a proponent of servant leadership and firmly believes in the power of community and collaboration to drive systemic change.

Residing outside Austin, TX, she dedicates her free time to advocacy and community engagement while enjoying life with her cats.