Da-Cocodia 

Louise Da-Cocodia MBE, was born in Jamaica and came to Britain when she was 21 years old to train as a nurse.  She became the first Black senior nursing officer in Manchester.

She became a dedicated anti-racism campaigner by working tirelessly for equality in education, health and housing for Black people.  Louise served on the Commission for Racial Equality, which handled complaints brought under the new anti-racism laws.

She also became involved in the West Indian Organisation Co-ordinating Committee and led it as its chair over three different years.  She also served many other community voluntary roles at a grassroots community level – where she was affectionately known as "Mrs D".  Louise was volunteered as a magistrate and in 1999 she was appointed Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Manchester.

Her work for the people of Manchester was recognized by an MBE from the Queen in 2005. ​Today there is a charity, Louise Da-Cocodia Education Trust, which continues her work for Manchester’s young people