PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Melany Nelson leads the Crisis Assistance, Response, and Engagement for Survivors (CARES) unit of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Her passion for helping victims and co-homicide survivors grew out of her work with Northwest Victims Services, where her mother served as director before her.
“I absolutely love helping people,” she said. “Anybody could call me any time of the day, and I would move a mountain for them just to be able to help them to make sure that they were OK, make sure that they were safe.”
This type of work is not for everyone. It requires deep compassion and care.
“I would hug those victims or those co-homicide survivors, that mother who lost their child to gun violence. And we would just sit on the couch and we would talk for hours,” she recalled. “And before leaving the home, a mother could say to me, ‘I love you.’”
Nelson said her parents are her role models.
“You got two young African American people born and raised in North Philly. Poor!” she exclaimed. “But when they became adults, they said that they would always give back. So I saw that growing up.”
Whether it’s raising money for funeral expenses or helping people with relocation, she does it from the heart. She believes everyone needs to look out for one another.
“God forbid that I’m ever in a situation where crime affects me. I want someone to love on me, and to be able to help me in my time of need. I actually put myself in the shoes of everyone that I help.”
During Black History Month, KYW Newsradio’s GameChangers honors 10 individuals or organizations that have made a significant, positive impact in communities of color in the greater Philadelphia region. KYW community affairs reporter Racquel Williams will host an evening honoring this year’s awardees on Feb. 22. View the 2023 honorees here.