Staff
Martha Mackey (she/her)
Southwestern Vermont Community Organizer
Martha was raised in a conservative Christian community in Upstate NY and since adulthood has been trying to find a way to balance her evolving faith and progressive worldview. In recent years, she’s come to understand that faith can be an important and formative part of living a life of love, justice, and mercy.
Prior to joining VIA, Martha studied Philosophy at Eastern University in Pennsylvania, and then completed an MSc. in Social and Cultural Anthropology in Belgium. She then interned with UN Habitat, focusing on promoting social, economic, and environmental justice.
Through all the phases of her life, her passion has always been to better understand the world, people, and their place within the world–and, most importantly, how to make the world a better place for everyone.
She can be contacted by email at martha@viavt.org.
Melissa Battah (she/her)
Executive Director
Melissa began organizing in the Barre-Montpelier area in 2011. She has decades of NGO experience focusing on Economic Justice, Housing, Cultural Education, Immigration and Gender/Ethnic/Racial Equity. Prior to beginning her work with VIA, Melissa mentored middle school students in Florida; coordinated prayer journeys in Thailand; and managed resource development for a community organizing group in Nazareth, Israel.
Melissa has worked at the Barre Community Justice Center, was a founding member of the Vermont Ethnic and Social Equity in Schools Coalition, served as Chair of the Board of Directors at the Good Samaritan Haven and is a vestry member at Good Shepherd Church (Episcopal) in Barre. She is the Treasurer of the Barre Town PTO and is a Justice of the Peace.
She graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a BA in Religion and from SIT Graduate Institute with a MA in Conflict Transformation and Sustainable Development. Melissa lives in Barre Town with her husband and two children. When not organizing, she can be found reading, digging in the dirt or traveling with her family.
She can be contacted by email at Melissa@viavt.org.
10th Annual Statewide Convention
Save the Date: VIA’s 10th Annual Statewide Convention
Wednesday, November 12
Join Vermont Interfaith Action (VIA) for our 10th Annual Statewide Convention — a milestone gathering of people of faith and conscience from across Vermont! Together, we’ll celebrate a decade of powerful organizing and hear inspiring stories of what we’ve accomplished over the past year.
Mark your calendar for this energizing and meaningful event! More details, including location and registration, coming soon.