Lower East Side Community Hero

Special acknowledgement from the LES Community Hero Awards selection committee

Born and raised in the Jacob Riis Projects in the Lower East Side, Lilah Mejia is a fierce organizer and activist. With the hashtags #InTheseStreets and #BoutmyCommunity, Lilah is driven by her struggles and firsthand experiences as a single mother of six children. Her work is rooted in organizing around housing, climate, and education. As a visionary, she constantly strives to bring resources to her community.

To date, Lilah has played a pivotal role in securing $350 million for resiliency efforts for the ESCR. in 2018, she led recovery efforts to support Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria and continues to assist in rebuilding initiatives alongside NYDIS to help assist Team Barrio Playa with rebuilding, their yearly back-to-school and 3 Kings Event.

Within her own community, Lilah initiated a project to house 10 fridges in local schools, along with other community-based organizations, providing thousands of people with food. When Covid-19 pandemic struck, she secured funding to feed communities in the Bronx and the Lower East Side on a weekly basis for two years. She has also played a vital role in supporting the growth of smaller local CBO’s and remains a crucial bridge of resources for families.

Currently, Lilah serves as the President of the Community Education Council 1. In this capacity, she organized the largest resource fair for newly arriving migrants in her school district. Each year, she hosts the annual Thanksgiving and Santaland event in her neighborhood, fostering a sense of community and togetherness.

Lilah’s work is grounded in her desire to empower and uplift her peers, all while relying on her village as she raises her children and pursuing a full-time education, working towards her BA in Urban Studies.