In her second act, Melanie Mages-Canale turned to social activism. Spurred by the divisiveness that gripped the nation after the 2016 presidential election, in January 2017 Melanie took the lead in starting the Sacramento region’s first chapter of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom.

It quickly became apparent that Melanie had tapped into a need in the community. Working with co-founder Dr. Anne Kjemtrup, that first chapter of 10 Jewish and Muslim women has now grown to six chapters with over 100 women plus a teen chapter. 

Melanie’s commitment to community and helping the less fortunate doesn’t stop with Sisterhood. She also organizes monthly food drives for the local food bank, volunteers at her synagogue and works in her grandson’s elementary school class.

When she’s not helping others, Melanie spends as much as time as possible with her family. She also enjoys gardening, needle point and playing the piano. 

In her first act, Melanie ran her own photography business for 35 years. Prior to going behind a camera, she worked as a special-ed high school teacher. Melanie was born in Chicago but spent most of her childhood growing up in Scottsdale, Arizona. She graduated from the University of Arizona.

Melanie lives outside Sacramento in a 120-year-old farmhouse. She’s lovingly married and is lucky enough to have both her children and their families living nearby.