body
WHEREAS, Melvin Hubbard El (Brother Mel) is a dedicated educator and committed community servant who served as Senior Community Advisor to the Honorable Ed Gainey, Mayor of Pittsburgh. He served eight years as Chief of Staff to then State Representative Edward C. Gainey for the 24th Legislative District of the Pennsylvania State General Assembly; and,
WHEREAS, Melvin played a key role in initiatives to improve community well-being, including helping create the Greater Father Involvement Act, signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf in November 2022. He is a founding member of the Fatherhood Movement in Western Pennsylvania and serves as Executive Director of the Coalition for Fathering Families; and,
WHEREAS, Brother Mel has served the Pittsburgh Public School District in many roles, including as an educator during the annual Take A Father To School Day Committee, Student Voices Leadership, We Promise Mentoring Program, and Mr. El is a 16-year volunteer in the Pittsburgh Public School District with Schenley High School, Pittsburgh Obama High School, and the Pittsburgh Westinghouse Marching Bands. His most recent involvement was the establishment of the City of Pittsburgh/School District of Pittsburgh One Band One Sound All-City Marching Band in 2023; and,
WHEREAS, Melvin serves on various non-profit boards and has received numerous recognitions for his service to Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and Pennsylvania. A proud member of the Westinghouse High School Wall of Fame, he earned a B.S. in Social Studies from Clarion University. He taught at Penn Circle Community High School in the 1980s, Pittsburgh’s first public alternative high school. Melvin holds certifications in Restorative Justice, Mediation, Conflict Resolution, and Manhood/Fatherhood Development; and,
WHEREAS, he lives in Lower East Hills with his wife Kathy and attends the Moorish Science Temple of America. Mel and his wife Kathy have two children together, Cush and Pyrmira; and,
title
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby acknowledges and commends Brother Mel for his unwavering commitment to community development, his passion for creating social impact, and his dedication to making a positive difference in the lives of others; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare, Wednesday, January 22, 2025 to be “Brother Mel Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.