The Eagle Tribune January 22, 2002 by Ethan Forman

Haverhill -  Community activist and former Lawrence mayoral candidate Isabel Melendez was honored for her efforts with that city's minority community.

The Merrimack Valley chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People gave Melendez the annual Ben Armstrong Drum major For Change Award yesterday at a breakfast marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Melendez, a native of Puerto Rico, helped establish the Roberto Clemente Children's Little League, founded funeral service organizations to assist families in need during times of grief, started a local Spanish-speaking radio talk show, and said that during her run for mayor she helped unite different ethnic groups and recruited more than 2,000 new voters.  Melendez was one of the first Latino residents to move to Lawrence, which is now 60 percent Spanish Speaking--43,019 residents out of 72,043, according to the 2000 Census.

A mother of four children, Melendez encouraged the 450 people at yesterday's breakfast to work toward helping future generations.

"The most precious gift we can give our children is hope, unity and progress for all," she said.  "We must continue to achieve total equality."