Our Founder
Wren Fialka is the founder and Executive Director of Spread the Love Commission. Her first introduction to those facing homelessness was at an early age in Washington D.C. Read article in JH Style. Since this first early encounter, this crisis and the people caught up in it, have had a special place in her heart. Unfortunately, it also became a constant source of heartbreak because she never felt like she could do enough to help. Then, in December of 2014, a conversation, with a man living on the street in San Francisco, lead to an epiphany and the compilation of a simple list of vital supplies. This list changed the course of her life and has now positively impacted the lives of many others.
Support Staff
Sara Johnson
Administrative Assistant
Service to others has been instilled in me throughout my life. Between my family's passion and my education I have always been invested in humanitarian causes. Growing up, my family adopted Bosnian refugee families during the holidays to provide gifts and food. We would hand deliver and visit with them on Christmas Eve. This was the catalyst. In highschool and college I consistently volunteered for Habitat for Humanity building homes in urban areas working directly with the families that benefited. I also annually attended protests at the Fort Benning military base in Georgia in opposition to the School of the Americas human rights violations. I graduated with a BA in communications but my two minors were my passions; sociology and human rights. There is always a need to help someone, somewhere and I have felt this calling my entire life.
Getting connected with the Spread the Love Commission in 2017 was the missing link in my adulthood for fostering my higher purpose. I went on outreach in Salt Lake City and gained a wider and more informed understanding about one of the biggest humanitarian issues that affects every corner of the world. Wren taught me a whole new level of compassion and how to respectfully interact with those experiencing homelessness. I have been able to share what I've learned with others to address stigmas and preconceived notions of those caught up in the homless crisis.
I am so thankful to continue to work with the Spread the Love Commission in an administrative capacity. I firmly believe my organizational and communication skills will help Spread the Love Commission continue to live up to its name.
Melissa DePierro
Chief of Operations
In 2010 after I finished undergrad, I decided to volunteer in India as I was unsure of what career path I wanted to take. During this six month stay in India, I witnessed countless numbers of people experiencing homelessness or overcrowded living conditions. Although the suffering was sometimes unimaginable and immense, the level of kindness and generosity I experienced from the most vulnerable populations was inspiring. From that moment on, I knew my calling was to be a Humanitarian.
After doing hours of research, I realized the humanitarian sphere had a clear need for professionals with expertise in the fields of finanace and business. That's when I applied to the University of Denver's International MBA program. In 2015, I graduated with an MBA and a certificate in Humanitarian Affairs from DU. I also completed two internships in the field of finance, one with Duetche Bank in India auditing microfinanace loans and another with a startup brewery assisting in the setup of their accounting and inventory management systems. From there, my career took off in craft beer working with start up breweries, which is what I've been doing for the last 8+ years.
Although craft beer is an exciting environment, I knew I wasn't fulfilling my life's purpose...and that's when the universe introduced me to Wren! Immediately I was drawn to her determination and dedication to actively address the homelessness crisis our communities are facing. Since May, I've been volunteering at Spread The Love, learning how the organization flows and working with Wren to collectively grow vital operations in an organized, data driven, strategic way. Wren has the vision, determination and compassion that is driving this business and the people's lives she touches forward. My ultimate goal is to compliment her strengths by bringing my analytical, strategic thought process to the team. I hope this write up gives you a glimpse into my background and intentions for working further with Spread The Love Commission!