Picture of Nora Melara-Lopez

Nora is resident of Hamilton since 1985. She came to Canada as a refugee with three of her five children. She has volunteered for more than 30 years as the coordinator of the Emergency Support Committee for Refugees, formerly known as the Ecumenical Support Committee for Refugees.
Since 1988, Nora has worked at Compass Community Health (formerly known as North Hamilton Community Health Centre) in several roles as a community health worker, a program coordinator, a manager of the Immigrant and Refugee Program, a diversity leader, member of the leadership team, client advocate/counselor and trauma informed primary care social worker. At present, she co-chairs the racial justice, diversity and inclusion committee of the health centre, and is a board director with the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton.
Nora obtained a certificate and a diploma from Mohawk College and university degree from Ryerson University. She is a human rights activist and has worked extensively with Amnesty International Canada as a public speaker, as a member of the National Executive and continues to collaborate in national campaigns to raise awareness about human rights violations occurring in Canada and in other parts of the world. Nora is passionate about issues of racial justice, diversity and inclusion. For her work, Nora has been the recipient of several local, provincial and international awards.

Nora Melara-Lopez