Mark Levine

Mark Levine began his professional career as a bilingual math and science teacher at JHS149 in the South Bronx. He later served as Executive Director of Teach For America-New York, where he oversaw placement and training of hundreds of high-performing teachers in schools throughout Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. He continued his education leadership as Executive Director of the Center for After-School Excellence, a non-profit initiative supporting after-school programs throughout the five boroughs. While Mark was a teacher, he saw how the families of his students lacked access to basic financial services, including bank accounts. He decided to address this need by founding Upper Manhattan's first and only community development credit union, Neighborhood Trust. The credit union has helped thousands of local low-income residents obtain loans to start businesses, pay for education, and even become owners of their own homes and continues to be a pillar of the Washington Heights community. In 2007, Mark was first elected to serve as Democratic District Leader in Northern Manhattan. In the 2008 presidential election he was honored to run on Barack Obama’s slate of delegate candidates and in early 2009 he founded one of New York City’s newest political clubs, the Barack Obama Democratic Club of Upper Manhattan, which has quickly become a force for empowering community residents to make their voice heard in local politics. Mark also served as chair of the Traffic and Transportation Committee of Community Board 12, where he led calls for improved subway and bus service, and championed the cause of making streets safer for bicyclists. As a City Council Member, Mark will continue to advocate for New York to be a place that works for everyone—where people of all incomes have an affordable place to live, a good school to send their kids to, and a job that pays a living wage. Mark is a longtime resident of Washington Heights with his wife Ivelisse and their two sons, who attend local public schools. He is an active member of the Hebrew Tabernacle synagogue. Mark earned a B.A. in Physics from Haverford College, and a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University. He is fluent in Spanish.