Nancy Mejía

Nancy has over 15 years of experience engaging urban, underserved communities of color in direct service, research, and policy initiatives. She joined LHA in 2011, and as Director of Community Engagement and Advocacy manages and provides strategic direction to its civic engagement, leadership development, and policy efforts working towards health equity and building power among immigrant, underrepresented communities in Orange County. She has co-led campaigns alongside promotores to improve access to affordable and dignified housing, open space, community-driven development, and safe active transportation.Nancy is actively involved in Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities and is a founding member of the THRIVE Santa Ana Community Land Trust and Santa Ana Active Streets Coalition. She was previously the Deputy Director of the City University of New York Institute for Health Equity, where she led initiatives to bridge the gap between academia and community-based organizations to eliminate health disparities. Nancy holds a Master of Public Health and a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University. She obtained a BA in Sociology and in Latin American Studies at UCLA. Nancy was born in El Salvador, and came to the U.S. when she was 6 by way of the Bronx, NY. She has moved over 20 times since then, first out of necessity, eventually out of curiosity. Growing up in a working-class immigrant household nurtured her conviction for social justice and pan Dulce.