It has been the life’s work of Migdalia Loyola Melendez to change people’s lives through education. As the Latino community education manager at Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, Loyola trains adult and teenage Latino community educators who teach others about such wide-ranging topics as HIV prevention, domestic violence, and family planning. She has also developed several programs for the Latino community.
“These programs are about empowering people,” says Loyola. “I feel that I’m giving the community tools they can use to make decisions that affect their health, the health of their children and, in the end, the community.”
Recently, the husband of one participant thanked Loyola for his wife’s renewed self-confidence after taking part in one of the programs, demonstrating to Loyola the far-reaching impact of education on people’s lives.
“It was a touching reminder that the skills we’re teaching and the empowerment that comes with learning and being respected cannot be replaced.”
Loyola left Puerto Rico to attend Macalester College, where she earned a degree in environmental and international studies. Her intention to work with the immigrant community was fulfilled with her first job as a battered women’s advocate at two local shelters.
She has continued to serve the community, volunteering at her church, with the fourth grade book club at a local school, and recently on some political campaigns. This year, Loyola and her family are hosting a Macalester student from Sweden.
