Mary L. Morten

Mary is a filmmaker, activist, and consultant and is committed to social change though video and film development. Mary has served as the producer/director for several films that have covered national policy initiatives, women's rights and the LGBT community. Morten has a B.A. in Communications from Loyola University of Chicago with a concentration in radio and television and minor in theatre.

Mary is the President of Morten Group (MG), a consulting firm specializing in social change through skills development, public policy and advocacy.

Mary is frequently seen in national and local media outlets for her expertise as a women's advocate. Mary's background includes 20 years of executive leadership at non-profits and a mayoral appointment in city government. Mary is the immediate past Director of the Office of Violence Prevention for the Chicago Department of Public Health. Prior to this position, Mary was an appointee for Mayor Richard M. Daley and served as a Director for the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.

She has received numerous honors for work with women and girls and in the philanthropic community. In 2010, Mary received the Freedom Award from Equality Illinois. Past honors include recognition from Rape Victim Advocates with the Visionary Award, the Women's Bar Association with their Women with Vision Award and Changing the Face of Philanthropy Award from the Women's Funding Network. Mary is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Donors Forum of Chicago.