Building on 25 years of professional experience, Melanie Shakarian launches Just Action Advisors, a new nationwide consultancy practice focused on supporting nonprofits, lawyers, law firms, and justice-minded philanthropists grow impact with a focus on social good.
“It is a thrill to begin this work, as now is a crucial time to support people and groups who want to make ‘good trouble’ to promote social good,” says Shakarian.
The services provided will include:
- philanthropy guidance,
- nonprofit capacity building
- guidance for law firm pro bono counsel
- attorney coaching
- professional development and continuing legal education presentations
- fractional services, referrals, and leadership searches.
Shakarian was previously the leader of external affairs at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland for nearly 21 years. She retired as Legal Aid’s Director of Development and Communications on February 28 to launch Just Action Advisors.
Shakarian also worked for Catholic Charities and in a private law firm. She is a graduate of John Carroll University (BA), Case Western Reserve University (JD), and the Weatherhead School of Management and the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations (CNM). She is a graduate of Leadership Cleveland 2015, and a recipient of a German Marshall Fund’s Marshall Memorial Fellowship (2018). She is a trustee for the Cleveland Public Library, a public library system with one of the largest collections in the United States.
