Mary F. Morten

Morten speaks at an Equality Rally at the Daley Center, Chicago (1999).

Mary F. Morten, a lifelong activist in Chicago, has dedicated her voice to advocating for marginalized communities.

Morten was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1996. Morten served as the first African American president of the Chicago chapter of the National Organization for Women, is an author and filmmaker on issues impacting the African American community, and has led organizations such as the Chicago Abortion Fund and Chicago Foundation for Women. Of note, Morten directed the City of Chicago's Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian Issues in 1996.^[1]

History

Morten attributes her work as an activist to her mother, who believed in the civil rights era's Call to Action: If you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem.^[2]

Work

Morten's professional career includes serving as executive vice president for the Women's Self-Employment Project, a not-for-profit business development organization dedicated to assisting women with low to moderate incomes to become economically self-sufficient. Relatedly, Morten was a member of the Mayor's Task Force on Home Occupation and was a leader of the Home-Based Business Coalition that advocated for passage of a revised ordinance governing home businesses in 1995.^[3]

Morten directed the City of Chicago's Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian issues in 1996. In her role at the Mayor's office, Morten led the community-based coalition for the film, It's Elementary, an educational film for use in staff development trainings for Chicago Public Schools and developed the anti-racism project, The Color Triangle, for the LGBT community.^[4]

In 2000, Mary Morten was named director of anti-violence prevention office for the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). Morten coordinated CDPH's city-wide violence prevention efforts and was responsible for the implementation of Prevent Violence! Chicago, the city's strategic violence prevention plan.^[5]

Beginning in 2007, Morten served as associate and interim executive director for the Chicago Foundation for Women, one of the largest women's funds in the world.^[4]

Service

In 1984, early in her career, Morten walked into the local chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and noted the lack of women of color present, and decided that had to change. "I walked in and never left." Morten eventually became president of the Chicago chapter of NOW.^[6]

Morten chaired the Chicago Commission on Human Relations' Advisory Council on Women and in that capacity sat on the full commission. Morten also chaired the Chicago Abortion Fund, an organization that provides financial aid and referrals to women seeking reproductive health services.^[3]

Just before Morten left her position with the Mayor's Office, she joined a group of activists and founded the Coalition for Education on Sexual Orientation (CESO). This group worked to secure public funds to target anti-homophobic bias in Illinois School Districts by providing training to students and teachers.^[7] Morten then helped to merge CESO with Creating Safe Schools for Illinois to form the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance.^[8]

Morten is also a former board member of Chicago's Center on Halsted, Illinois Center for Violence Prevention, and of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.^[9]

In 1993, Morten's service was publicly recognized when she was the youngest woman, and one of three open lesbians, honored by Sculpture Chicago's public art display. In honor of Morten's contributions to the Chicago community, a limestone boulder and plaque on Wacker Drive's Riverfront Walk commemorated her work.^[10]

Arts

In 1996, Morten became a member of A Real Read, a Chicago's African American Lesbigaytrans Performance Ensemble. This theatre company aimed to represent a community living under the dual minority status related to race and sexual orientation. A Real Read addressed issues such as: HIV and AIDS prevention, homophobia, religion, women and transgender issues. Through their poetry, prose, music, and vignettes, the group gave a voice to a community often silenced, while offering performances that reflected the universal.^[11]

In 2004, Morten produced a benefit production of Eve Ensler's play, The Vagina Monologues, as part of V-DAY, a worldwide movement to stop violence against women and girls. Proceeds from V-DAY Chicago 2004 benefitted the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and Southwest Women Working Together.^[12]

Political

Early in Morten's activist career, she volunteered in Geraldine Ferraro's 1984 vice-presidential campaign.^[13]

Morten has worked with Barack Obama since he was a state senator in the late 1990s."Barack is totally comfortable with gay people...he mentioned gays in his announcement speech in Springfield, I11., which he didn't have to do. But its not just a media opportunity with him. He is part of the community.".^[14]

Mary Morten also worked on Obama's presidential campaign ^[15] and is a regular visitor to the Obama White House. When the White House hosted a reception to celebrate Gay Pride Month in 2009, Morten was part of the Chicago entourage that celebrated with the President and First Lady.^[16]

Current work

Currently, Morten is the president of Morten Group, through which Mary Morten specializes in social change through skills development, public policy and advocacy for the betterment of women, people of color and the LGBT community.^[17] The Morten Group also works with businesses and nonprofit organizations on issues of leadership development, diversity training, succession planning, and other projects, all touching on social issues.^[18]

Morten is also currently producing a documentary inspired by the research of Cathy Cohen's work with the Black Youth Project, at the University of Chicago. The film is titled, "Woke Up Black" and explores the attitudes, actions, and decisions of African-American youth. Of this documentary she is producing, Morten says "I think the media is a powerful tool that is an under tapped resource. Anytime we can talk about issues, whether we're doing an interview on the radio, filming a documentary or using radio to make a presentation to policy makers, I think that we tell the story in a much more compelling way and I think many more people will hear it. I think that most of my goals will focus on media work."^[17]

Awards

• 2010 Justice For All Gala Freedom and Business Leadership Award. Presented by Equality Illinois ^[19]
• 2007 Women with Vision Award from the Women's Bar Association of Illinois ^[20]
• 2007 Rape Victim Advocates Visionary Award ^[21]
• 2004 Women's Funding Network Changing the Face of Philanthropy Award ^[19]
• (Year?) Women's Business Development Center’s Advocacy Award.(reference?)
• 2004 John R. Hammell Award, American Civil Liberties Union - Illinois ^[22]
• 2001 Anita Dee Harper Award for exemplary dedication and service to under-served and at risk women and girls, Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights Women's Board.^[23]
• 1996 Induction into Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame ^[24]
• 1990 Crain's Chicago Business Annual 40 Under 40 list ^[13]

References

1. ^ "http://www.glhalloffame.org/index.pl?todo=view_item&item=90", Retrieved February 4, 2010
2. ^ Retrieved February 27, 2010
3. ^ ^{a b} "Retrieved February 27, 2010". Glhalloffame.org. http://www.glhalloffame.org/index.pl?todo=view_item&item=90. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Retrieved February 8, 2010". Equalityillinois.org. http://www.equalityillinois.org/mary.html. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
5. ^ http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P3-540616021.html, Retrieved February 8, 2010
6. ^ "Retrieved, February 8, 2010". Chicagobusiness.com. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?portal_id=35&page_id=112. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
7. ^ Weinert, George M (2004-12-28). "Retrieved February 27, 2010". Americanjihad.blogspot.com. http://americanjihad.blogspot.com/2004/12/chicago-public-schools-racism-and.html. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
8. ^ Retrieved February 27, 2010
9. ^ February 8, 2010^{[dead link]}
10. ^ "February 26, 2010". Glhalloffame.org. http://www.glhalloffame.org/index.pl?todo=view_item&item=90,Retrieved. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
11. ^ February 9, 2010^{[dead link]}
12. ^ Materville Studios - Host of Windy City Times (2004-02-01). "February 26, 2010". Windycitymediagroup.com. http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/ARTICLE.php?AID=3841,Retrieved. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
13. ^ ^{a b} "Retrieved February 8, 2010". Chicagobusiness.com. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?portal_id=35&page_id=112. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
14. ^ "Retrieved February 9, 2010" (PDF). http://rodonline.typepad.com/Articles/Advocate20070410ClintonObama.pdf. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
15. ^ Citron, Jamie (2008-10-13). "February 9, 2010". My.barackobama.com. http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/jcitron/gGgFmv. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
16. ^ Sweet, Lynn (2009-06-29). "Retrieved February 9, 2010". Blogs.suntimes.com. http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/06/chicagoans_at_lgbt_white_house.html. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
17. ^ ^{a b} Materville Studios - Host of Windy City Times. "Retrieved February 8, 2010". Windycitymediagroup.com. http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/ARTICLE.php?AID=21134. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
18. ^ By Advocate.com Contributors. "Retrieved February 17, 2010". Advocate.com. http://www.advocate.com/Print_Issue/Features/The_Coolest_Jobs/. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
19. ^ ^{a b} "Retrieved February 8, 2010". Equalityillinois.org. http://www.equalityillinois.org/awardees.html. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
20. ^ "Retrieved February 9, 2010". Cfw.org. 2008-01-22. http://www.cfw.org/Page.aspx?pid=804. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
21. ^ Materville Studios - Host of Windy City Times. "Retrieved February 8, 2010". Windycitymediagroup.com. http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=14625. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
22. ^ Retrieved February 9, 2010^{[dead link]}
23. ^ "Retrieved February 9, 2010". Acnconsult.org. http://www.acnconsult.org/members-only/profile?consultant=100. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
24. ^ "Retrieved February 9, 2010". Glhalloffame.org. http://www.glhalloffame.org/index.pl?todo=view_item&item=90. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 

External links

• Morten Group
• Chicago Abortion Fund
• Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
• Black Youth Project

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