Melat was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, just weeks before her father was selected by the United States’ Diversity Visa Lottery. Seeking out community and support from other Ethiopian immigrants, her family moved to Denver, Colorado. Melat grew up watching her parents struggle to navigate an unfamiliar country while working multiple jobs to pay the bills and put her father through pharmacy school, but she also witnessed the power of community as family and friends would lend her parents a hand with babysitting, grocery shopping, and job searching, and soon her parents would be able to do the same for others.

Guided by this commitment to serving others, Melat went on to study Political Science and Economics at Washington College in Chestertown, MD before earning her law degree from the University of Notre Dame in 2022. While working as an attorney in New York City, Melat witnessed the bravery of the student protesting for Palestine despite the risk of punishment and losing their job offers for. She decided to write an article defending the students and their critique of Israel. After being asked to take down the article, Melat refused, and she was fired. She may have lost her job but she was reminded that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, change only happens when we show up for it.

Support Justice