Martha S. Lewis
Encyclopedia
Martha S. Lewis was an American
government
official and social work
er. She had a long career as a ground-breaking social worker in the metropolitan New York City
area and elsewhere. In the 1970s, she was the highest ranking African-American official in any state government, as a deputy commissioner for the Department of Social Services in the New York State government
. She was also a pioneer in the civil rights movement
.
from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
in 1944. She next earned her masters of social work
(MSW
) degree from Atlanta University School of Social Work in 1947. She also briefly attended the Harvard University
's Kennedy School of Government.
in New Orleans, Los Angeles
, and New York City. As an expert on juvenile delinquency
, she wrote the seminal 1961 report The Girl Delinquent and the Male Street-Corner Gang.
In 1970, Lewis was one of the 17 original founders of the Coalition of One Hundred Black Women, a civil rights
organization for Black women. She was an active member of the NAACP, the National Urban League
, and other civil rights organizations.
to the 1980s
, under both Republican
and Democrat
administrations.
Mayor John Lindsay
appointed her in 1964 to be deputy director for the Department of Social and Community Services at New York City Housing Authority
, a public housing
authority in New York City
. In 1968, Mayor Lindsay next appointed her to run the "Operation Better Block", which was a prototype for block associations. She worked as a consultant in the early 1970s. Finally, she served as the director of the Department of Social and Community Services for the New York City Housing Authority
from 1972 to 1975, also under Lindsay.
In 1975, she was appointed a deputy commissioner for special projects for the state Department of Social Services by the newly-elected governor
Hugh L. Carey. In 1977, she became deputy commissioner for the New York City metropolitan area.
After retirement, she served on the board of the Cathedral Choral Society of the Washington National Cathedral.. She also volunteered with the New York State Museum
, The Girl Friends, Inc., and the Cathedral of All Saints
in Albany.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
official and social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
er. She had a long career as a ground-breaking social worker in the metropolitan New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
area and elsewhere. In the 1970s, she was the highest ranking African-American official in any state government, as a deputy commissioner for the Department of Social Services in the New York State government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
. She was also a pioneer in the civil rights movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
.
Education and early life
Lewis received a bachelor's degree in social sciencesSocial sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a historically black university located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States. Founded in 1873, it is the oldest HBCU and the second oldest public institution in the state of Arkansas . UAPB is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
in 1944. She next earned her masters of social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
(MSW
MSW
-Computers:*Microsoft Windows, an operating system*Machine Status Word, a data segment in the LOADALL instruction set for Intel 286 processors*Microsoft Office Word, a proprietary word processor-Science and Engineering:...
) degree from Atlanta University School of Social Work in 1947. She also briefly attended the Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Kennedy School of Government.
Civil rights activism and social work
Lewis began her social work career by working in the 1950s with youthYouth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
in New Orleans, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and New York City. As an expert on juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency is participation in illegal behavior by minors who fall under a statutory age limit. Most legal systems prescribe specific procedures for dealing with juveniles, such as juvenile detention centers. There are a multitude of different theories on the causes of crime, most if not...
, she wrote the seminal 1961 report The Girl Delinquent and the Male Street-Corner Gang.
In 1970, Lewis was one of the 17 original founders of the Coalition of One Hundred Black Women, a civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
organization for Black women. She was an active member of the NAACP, the National Urban League
National Urban League
The National Urban League , formerly known as the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, is a nonpartisan civil rights organization based in New York City that advocates on behalf of African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States. It is the oldest and largest...
, and other civil rights organizations.
Government career
Lewis held several high-level positions in the New York city and state government from the 1960s1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
to the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
, under both Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
administrations.
Mayor John Lindsay
John Lindsay
John Vliet Lindsay was an American politician, lawyer and broadcaster who was a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of New York City, candidate for U.S...
appointed her in 1964 to be deputy director for the Department of Social and Community Services at New York City Housing Authority
New York City Housing Authority
The New York City Housing Authority provides public housing for low- and moderate-income residents throughout the five boroughs of New York City. NYCHA also administers a citywide Section 8 Leased Housing Program in rental apartments...
, a public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
authority in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1968, Mayor Lindsay next appointed her to run the "Operation Better Block", which was a prototype for block associations. She worked as a consultant in the early 1970s. Finally, she served as the director of the Department of Social and Community Services for the New York City Housing Authority
New York City Housing Authority
The New York City Housing Authority provides public housing for low- and moderate-income residents throughout the five boroughs of New York City. NYCHA also administers a citywide Section 8 Leased Housing Program in rental apartments...
from 1972 to 1975, also under Lindsay.
In 1975, she was appointed a deputy commissioner for special projects for the state Department of Social Services by the newly-elected governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Hugh L. Carey. In 1977, she became deputy commissioner for the New York City metropolitan area.
After retirement, she served on the board of the Cathedral Choral Society of the Washington National Cathedral.. She also volunteered with the New York State Museum
New York State Museum
The New York State Museum is a research-backed institution in Albany, New York, United States. It is located on Madison Avenue, attached to the south side of the Empire State Plaza, facing onto the plaza and towards the New York State Capitol...
, The Girl Friends, Inc., and the Cathedral of All Saints
Cathedral of All Saints
The Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, New York is the central church of the Episcopal See of the Albany and the seat of the Episcopal Bishop of Albany...
in Albany.