Former NYC City Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito
Former Speaker of the New York City Council; Former New York City Council Member for District 8
A Puerto Rican native and graduate of Columbia and Baruch Universities, Melissa Mark-Viverito was the first Latina Speaker of the New York City Council. In her leadership role, Speaker Mark-Viverito spearheaded policies to protect vulnerable populations and uplift New Yorkers in all five boroughs. Elected as Council member in 2005 and serving from 2006 to 2017 to represent East Harlem and the 8th District, Speaker Mark-Viverito supported legislation to combat sex trafficking in New York City, launched the nation’s first Young Women’s Initiative to tackle gender inequality, and earmarked funding to assist survivors of human trafficking in specialty courts.
“Human trafficking has no place in our city and in our world. No one should be exploited and deprived of their freedom. It is our collective responsibility to end this abominable crime now.”