Meet Melanie Ernestina Burke

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melanie Ernestina Burke a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Melanie Ernestina, really appreciate you joining us to talk about a really relevant, albeit unfortunate topic – layoffs and getting fired. Can you talk to us about your experience and how you overcame being let go?

When I was laid off from United by Design in April 2025, I knew it was more than a financial decision. It was about power, gender, and unspoken hierarchies. As the only Black woman and the only woman on the core team, I experienced patterns of covert sexism, inconsistent leadership, and inequity that ultimately led to a strategic layoff framed as a financial necessity. It was emotionally taxing, but not unfamiliar, because many Black women in professional spaces are navigating similar dynamics right now.
According to recent labor statistics, Black women have faced the highest job losses of any demographic in 2025, with more than 106,000 jobs lost in April alone. Our unemployment rate jumped from 5.1% to 6.2% by May, while the overall U.S. rate remained steady. These numbers reflect a broader pattern shaped by the current administration’s rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and sweeping federal job cuts that disproportionately affect Black women. The dismantling of DEI infrastructure has eliminated entire departments where we were often most represented, especially in agencies like Education, Health, and Housing. These figures don’t lie. They expose systemic inequality and reveal the real-world consequences of policy decisions.
So while my layoff felt personal, it was also political. What helped me move forward wasn’t just resilience. It was clarity. I chose to name what was happening. I documented workplace inconsistencies, advocated for my boundaries, and refused to stay silent in the face of subtle erasure. I turned that pain into purpose.
While I wasn’t working in government, the ripple effects of these policies are undeniable. The administration has rolled back DEI efforts across the federal government, dissolving offices and cutting thousands of jobs, many held by women and people of color. These roles often provided stability, livable wages, and pathways to economic mobility. For Black women, especially those working in mission-driven environments, the impact has been devastating. We are watching systems erase us while asking us to keep showing up, to stay quiet, and to keep creating.
So, how did I move through it? I permitted myself to speak the truth, not just about office culture or personality conflicts, but about power, labor, and harm. I wrote it down. I advocated for myself. I started asking better questions about the kind of environments I want to build and be part of.
Since then, I’ve rooted myself even more deeply in the community. I’ve found a creative home at Elevate Creative Studios, a Black woman-owned space that champions inclusion, storytelling, and innovation. I’ve had the honor of working on transformative projects like AURA and AfroTech, and I’m building new ventures with Andrea Stephania Designs, whose recently launched LLC curates immersive experiences for women and creatives worldwide.
So no, I didn’t just “bounce back” from being laid off. I made a conscious decision to build something better. For myself. For my collaborators. And for every Black woman who’s ever been told to shrink just to survive.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a creative producer, event strategist, and arts educator with roots in theater and a heart for community-centered storytelling. My work exists at the intersection of immersive art, sustainability, education, and cultural equity. Across every project, whether it’s producing large-scale events like Spoiled Latina Summit, Wearable Art Gala, and AfroTech, to curating artist-centered initiatives through Andrea Stephania Designs, or building long-term creative ecosystems at Elevate Creative Studios, I’m focused on making experiences that feel intentional, impactful, and rooted in care.
At the core of everything I do is a desire to build more sustainable, equitable spaces for artists, especially Black and brown creatives. My background in education and nonprofit leadership helps me design programs that don’t just celebrate art but also support the people behind the work to create dynamic and impressive experiences and events. From co-founding Fine Arts Forward, which provided arts mentorship to underserved students, to leading public art and marketing storytelling campaigns, my goal has always been the same: to make space for joy and creative possibility.
What I want people to know about my brand is that I create with purpose. My work is about aesthetics designed around systems of care and culture. I believe that storytelling is a strategy, that softness is power, and that women of color deserve to lead without burning out. That belief guides everything I do.
This chapter of my work is about the reclamation of time, space, narrative, and joy. And I’m proud to be building platforms that hold space for that, not just for myself, but for the communities I serve.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Adaptability rooted in purpose.
Working across theater, education, nonprofit, public art, and large-scale events has taught me how to pivot without losing my center. Creative industries are unpredictable, and being adaptable is essential, but it’s not just about being flexible. It’s about knowing why you do what you do so that you’re not shape-shifting for survival, but evolving with intention.
2. Relationship-building as strategy, not just networking.
Many of the opportunities I’ve had came from genuine relationships—people who saw my work, respected my approach, and wanted to build something together. I don’t chase contacts; I nurture community.
3. Creative leadership that honors boundaries.
For a long time, I believed that being a good creative meant being constantly available, endlessly passionate, and always producing. But I’ve learned that real leadership is about protecting your energy, saying no when necessary, and creating from a place of wellness, not burnout.
Ultimately, the journey is long and nonlinear. You don’t have to rush. What matters most is that you stay honest with yourself and committed to building something that reflects who you are, not just what the industry expects of you.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is someone who understands that storytelling isn’t just about branding but about belonging. I gravitate toward clients who, like AriZona Iced Tea, center quality, creativity, and cultural connection in everything they do. I’m drawn to organizations and individuals who aren’t afraid to be bold, who bring a sense of play and imagination to their work, and who genuinely care about the communities they’re engaging with, not just their consumer base or bottom line.
The perfect collaborator for me values:
Authenticity over perfection. They’re not chasing trends; they’re grounded in who they are and open to evolving with purpose.

Access and equity. They want their message, product, or experience to be inclusive, whether they’re selling a $1 drink or launching a public arts campaign.

Creative risk. They’re willing to experiment, try something new, or break form, especially if it means building something beautiful, strange, or resonant.

A clear sense of mission. They know why they exist beyond profit, and they’re looking to build partnerships that deepen impact and expression.

I love working with people and brands that balance vision and vibe, the kind that see design as storytelling, events as culture-making, and marketing as a chance to reflect back something meaningful to the world.
Whether it’s an iced tea can covered in vibrant art or a women’s artist series rooted in community care, I work best with those who are in it for the long game, who want to build things that feel good, look good, and do good.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://melanieernestina.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanieeburke/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/melanieernestina