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CITY COUNCIL | 7TH COUNCIL DISTRICT
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MARK
LEVINE |
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Democratic
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Party Enrolled
In: Democratic
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Occupation:
President, Neighborhood Trust Federal Credit Union
& Executive Director, Credit Where Credit Is
Due
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Occupational Background:
Bilingual Math & Science Teacher—Junior
High School 149, South Bronx
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Educational Background:
Masters in Public Policy, Harvard University; B.A.,
physics, Haverford College
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Organizational
Affiliations: Board Member, Fresh Youth Initiatives;
Alt. Board Member, National Federation of Community
Development Credit Unions; Board Member, Mother
Cabrini High School
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Prior Public Experience:
Member, Audubon Reform Democratic Club
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After studying physics in college Mark
became a bilingual math and science teacher at
JHS 149 in the South Bronx (he is fluent in Spanish).
While in the classroom he became increasingly
troubled by the economic distress of the community,
and so he went on to Harvard University’s Kennedy
School of Government, where he received a Master’s
degree in Public Policy with a concentration in
finance and urban economic development.
Mark then began building a new non-profit organization
out of his apartment in Washington Heights. “Credit
Where Credit Is Due” would promote economic
development in Upper Manhattan by increasing access
to and understanding of financial services among
low-income families.
After over two years of organizing work, the group
chartered a community development credit union,
called “Neighborhood Trust”, which opened
in 1997 in a formerly abandoned bank branch in
Washington Heights. Under Mark’s leadership as
President, the credit union has grown to 4,000
members, most of whom had never before had a savings
account.
The credit union—which last year opened its
second branch in West Harlem—has made over
1,000 loans in the community, helping residents
start and expand businesses, buy homes, pay for
education, purchase their first computers, and
more.
Neighborhood Trust now has over $6 million in
assets and is one of the fastest growing community
development credit unions in the nation. In 1998
Mark was recognized as America’s top community
leader under 30 when he received the prestigious
Brick Award, and has been recognized as one of
Crain’s Business Magazine’s “40 Under 40”
rising stars.
Mark and his wife, Ivelisse Suárez, are
proud parents of a baby boy, Alejandro and make
their home in the Washington Heights section of
upper Manhattan.
(Statement reprinted as supplied by the candidate.)
Participating in
the NYC Campaign Finance Program.
View
Candidate Statement Disclaimer
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