LONG ISLAND, NY – Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone recently announced the appointment of Mary Porter as the new executive director of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission.
“Under a decade ago, Suffolk County had become a place known for intolerance,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “I made a commitment to ensure that this county is one that embraces diversity and with the great work of the Human Rights Commission, that reputation has since changed. Mary has a proven record of service and leadership and will be a tremendous asset to the commission.”
“I am committed to furthering the incredibly important work of the Human Rights Commission and am excited to take on this new role as Executive Director to promote social justice in Suffolk County,” Porter said. “I thank County Executive Bellone and the Human Rights Commission for this opportunity.”
Porter was born in Washington, D.C and received her Juris Doctor from Temple University and her Bachelors of Science from Howard University.
She previously served as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, acting general counsel for the medical examiner of New York City, and most recently as an assistant attorney for Suffolk County specializing in new criminal and social justice programs.
Porter also developed crime reduction policy for the New York City Mayor’s Office as part of the Criminal Justice Coordinator’s Office, including strategies to reduce sex trafficking and underage prostitution, reductions in gun violence, and creation of the hate crimes hotline.
In addition, she oversaw the construction of criminal justice facilities including the Kings Supreme and Family Court Building in Brooklyn and the New York City Chief Medical Examiner DNA testing facility.
Porter is replacing Jennifer Blaske who was appointed Executive Director of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission in 2011. Porter lives in the Town of Babylon with her husband and daughter.
“The fifteen members of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission look forward to the tenure of Mary Porter as our newest Executive Director, stated Rabbi Steven Moss, SC Human Rights Commission. “She was selected after a lengthy search and interview process. We have no doubt she will enhance the professionalism of our office and successfully carry out the mission of the Commission to stand strong against discrimination in our county.”
The Suffolk County Human Rights Commission was created in May 1963 to enforce laws against discrimination and to work towards the elimination of bias and intolerance in Suffolk County. The Commission comprises a 15-member volunteer board of commissioners led by Chairperson Rabbi Dr. Steven A. Moss as well as an office staff that enforces Human Rights Laws and investigates complaints of discrimination primarily in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations. Each year the Commission responds to thousands of inquiries from the public, most relating to unfair treatment on the job.
For more information and updates on the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission, visit www.suffolkcountyny.gov or www.facebook.com/stevebellone.
PHOTO: Mary Porter, Executive Director of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission, County Executive Steve Bellone
Disclaimer: News articles on this site may contain opinions of the author, and if opinion, may not necessarily reflect the views of the site itself or the views of the owners of NewsLI.com, Long Island Media Inc., or Long Island Exchange®. For more information on our editorial policies please view our terms of service.
