Melissa Forsyth

Melissa Forsyth’s

compassion started early

By Rachael Hanel | Submitted photos

Melissa Forsyth saw firsthand at a young age what care and compassion for others looked like. She grew up in a home where her mother did foster care. “I’m really striving to be the person I may have needed. That’s been my drive and vision statement. Where does that lead and take you?” she says.

“That allowed [my mom] to be in a position where she could really help provide care and compassion to families who really needed that, while also taking care of her own family. I watched her balance that,” says Forsyth, who works as the regional director of health services—Western Region for Planned Parenthood.

That observation mode continued throughout Forsyth’s high school years, during which she encountered numerous obstacles. Since then, she’s thought a lot about what type of support she could have used during those challenging years. That passion for helping others has resulted in a long career in nonprofit work in the Mankato area. Before starting work at Planned Parenthood in the summer of 2018, Forsyth worked at the Committee Against Domestic Abuse (CADA) for 17 years. Jes Wysong, who worked with Forsyth at CADA, says Forsyth’s compassion for others stands out. “She’s really thoughtful and intentional about helping people that others might not have compassion for,” says Wysong, who now works as director of mission and social justice impacts at the Mankato YWCA.

Forsyth also strives to keep in mind the inequality and barriers that many women face.

“How do we lift them up in a way that brings equity and inclusion, and care and compassion?” she asks.

She sees those barriers up close working in the health care field. As regional director, she provides leadership and oversight to 14 health centers in the region, which includes Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska.

“How do we really break down barriers for people to get access to health care? How can they feel empowered in their choices and how do they choose to take care of themselves?” She continues, “How do we create access has been a really important piece to me.”

The coronavirus pandemic has focused a spotlight on inequalities. That renewed focus can be a blessing, Forsyth says.

“It has really brought about some super important conversations and some great action plans as well.”

The pandemic has hit women particularly hard. Often the brunt of domestic duties has fallen on their shoulders, requiring them to manage the household and ever-changing school schedules on top of their own work and time. They may have had to leave their jobs to become primary caretakers with their kids attending school from home.

“That’s an important observation and we shouldn’t lose sight of that,” she says.

Wysong says Forsyth is an excellent advocate for women.

“Women are important and not always noticed. There needs to be an advocate and allies who work on the frontlines,” Wysong says.

Forsyth herself is balancing work and family. She has three children: a girl, age 12, and two boys, ages 10 and 8. The oldest two have autism.

The youngest attends elementary school and has had to become adaptable and flexible, though that has come with no small degree of anxiety. The oldest two attend the Minnesota Autism Center in upper North Mankato. The center closed at the beginning of the pandemic and worked quickly to come up with options and plans. Children with autism thrive on routine, so the center tried to get back safely as quickly as possible. It re-opened in May, but even that small break proved to be a challenge in getting back into a routine.

“It’s definitely been a challenge. I’m very blessed with a great support system and an accommodating place of employment. I don’t know how we could really manage without the flexibility and accommodations I’ve had,” Forsyth says.

Being a mom is an important asset for Forsyth’s work, Wysong says.

“It makes her more aware of issues that the women she works with are facing. She knows what it’s like to be a mom and to face judgment, and she knows how to prioritize.”

Two things Forsyth has learned in the past year: to be gentle with herself, and to ask for help.

“I’m being OK with not getting everything done and being tired. I challenge myself to take care of myself and find a good self-care practice.”

She asks people to figure out what they need from a support system. “If you don’t have one, what does it look like to build one? How do you ask for that help? How do you ask others what they need?”

She said the work-life balance is a continual process. What works one week may not work the next.

“This year has pushed me to normalize asking for help,” she says.