About
Melaida and Andre Richards crossed paths through an organization that supports entrepreneurs, where they discovered a shared passion for serving the community. Melaida’s strength in active listening and Andre’s lived experience supporting at-risk youth with trauma sparked a realization that they could extend their impact even further.
Melaida Corpuz
Melaida Corpuz’s work through iListen and her deep community involvement reflect her commitment to creating a more empathetic and connected world through the power of listening. Her initiatives—such as the Happily Ever Understood Podcast, International Day of Listening, Listening Circles, and community-focused events—are all rooted in building understanding and human connection.
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Melaida is especially dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities. Her experience working with children with special needs, students on the autism spectrum, and veterans at the Kipnes Centre allows her to continue showing up as an active, compassionate listener for those who often go unheard.
Andre Richards
Andre Richards is the Founder of Healthy Aligned Living (HAL), a trauma-informed, youth-led nonprofit focused on healing, empowerment, and inclusive system change. With a background in Community and Criminal Justice and lived experience, Andre works to dismantle cycles of harm and exclusion.
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As a Certified SMART Recovery Facilitator and trained coach in CBT, DBT, and addiction recovery, he creates spaces where all abilities are supported in rewriting their stories. His work challenges systems like the school-to-prison pipeline, centering disability justice, alternative education, and youth leadership.
Andre is passionate about building communities where everyone can rise, lead, and thrive.
