Mel shares her journey of turning grief into action after losing her 13-year-old daughter Peyton to suicide following bullying at school. She discusses how she's using theater and community advocacy to keep her daughter's memory alive.

• Mel introduces herself as a property manager and theater director from North Carolina, now living in Florida with military family background
• She's directing "Lend Me a Tenor" with StageCrafters theater company, dedicating the production to her daughter Peyton
• Peyton took her life in December 2023, leaving notes that she had been bullied
• The show will feature a seat with Peyton's photo each night, with the second weekend of performances coinciding with what would have been her 14th birthday
• Mel is establishing the Peyton Emily Foundation and a Facebook group called "Moms Rising Up in Okaloosa County"
• The foundation will offer scholarships and work on bullying prevention with the hashtag #PaytonStrong
• Mel discusses the challenges military families face, questioning the expectation that military children should be "resilient"
• She emphasizes the importance of continuing conversations with children, as even when parents think their kids are telling the truth, they may not be
• The hosts offer support for fundraisers and awareness events to help keep Peyton's memory alive

Come see "Lend Me a Tenor" by StageCrafters at the Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium. Opening night is June 6th at 7:30 pm, running Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the first weekend, then June 13-15 for the second weekend. Sunday matinees are at 2:00 pm. Visit stagecrafters.com or their Facebook page for more information.