Melody L. Copenny is a talented and passionate writer, author, creative, and storyteller. During her 23-year career, she has served as a lead editorial strategist, editor-in-chief, managing editor, director of communications, journalist, brand champion and protector, social media manager, event planner, fundraiser, cultural competency consultant and facilitator, and campus minister with non-profit organizations.
She is a graduate of the University of Georgia with Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (A.B.J.) in Magazines, has a Certificate of Theological Education through the Institute of Biblical Studies (Cru), is a graduate of the Senior Leadership Initiative, which identified, equipped, developed and coached emerging leaders for national and global positions (Cru), and is a graduate of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies’ Summit on Reporting and Editing.
An Atlanta native who lives a gospel-centered life, Melody resides in Orlando, Florida. She writes to be real, relevant, and reveal as she covers articles and leads editorial production for national and international stories with themes of hope and eternity in mind.
Melody’s passionate about helping grievers grieve well as they walk through the valley of the shadows. She’s compelled and committed to injecting her voice into the world by pursuing a regular intersection of creativity, words, theology, human connection, and popular culture.
A lover of classic soul, funk, and R&B music, Melody enjoys a vegetarian lifestyle with hints of veganism. One of her passions is running 5K, 10K, 15K, and half marathon races with her BGR sole sisters and currently, she serves as a BGR Ambassador for the Black Girls RUN! Orlando chapter. She also enjoys the benefits of yoga as a discipline for her body and her mind, walking, and strength training.
She was a 2017-2023 member of Redbud Writers Guild, an international community of Christian women who envision a vibrant and diverse movement of women who create in community and who influence culture and faith. Redbud members strive to change the world with words while fostering a safe sisterhood of creatives who thrive in a non-competitive, supportive community. She looks forward to re-engaging in the future.
Her guest writing work can be viewed at The Beautiful Project, Kingdom Women, Cru, and The Redbud Post.
In 2021, she added to her writing credentials and was featured on Propel Sophia, a platform that’s part of the Propel Women collective.
In 2022, she took part in a devotional project called VOICES OF FAITH, powered by Our Daily Bread – 28 Reflections From The Global Community of People of African Descent – The African Diaspora.
The project was released February 2023. Melody’s writing is featured in Day 6 of the devotional in a sampling online and the full 28-day devotional can be downloaded electronically.
Portions of the devotional are also available in the YouVersion Bible app through a 10-day reading plan here. VOICES also created a beautiful Juneteenth project.
Melody has submitted guest writing for consideration to midnight & indigo and Mahogany.
At the close of 2023 – early 2024, she served as a book manuscript reader for the publisher InterVarsity Press.
She’s committed to stewarding and cultivating her voice, time, talents, and presence as a Black woman of faith into spaces that elevate, care for, and center the lived experiences and phenomenal gifts of Black women.