Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper 18th Assembly District
Earlene Hooper , Democrat-Liberal, was elected for the first time on March 15, 1988 in a special election. Re-elections in 1988, 1990, and 1992, made her the only minority serving in the Legislature from Long Island. In addition, she is the only black woman represented a suburban district in New York State.
Hooper, a resident of Hempstead for over 20 years, is a social worker by profession. She earned a B.A. in English from Norfolk State University and received her Master's degree in Social Work from Adelphi University, Garden City, New York.
She worked for several years promoting the special interests of young people as an Administrator in New York State's Department of Social Services Division of Child and Family Services. Her strong background in public service and civic experience enabled her to easily adjust to the duties of the New York State Legislature.
An active unionist, Hooper was a member of the Executive Board of the Public Employees Federation (PEF). She served as a shop steward for PEF from 1979-1988. She was a founder of the PEF's Women's Program, a council member of the Scholarship Committee of PEF, delegate to 8 conventions, co-author and actress in the annual PEF Women's Conference and editor of the Division of 191 Newsletter.
A long-time member of the Hempstead Heights Civic Association, Hooper has provided innovative and effective leadership in an effort to improve the community.
As Legislative delegate of Nassau County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, she established the D.E.A.L.S. project (Developing and Expanding Adult Life Skills) to help young people make difficult transition from adolescence to adulthood.
The Assemblywoman is a member of the N.A.A.C.P., The Central Nassau Chapter of the Negro Business and Professional Women's Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She has also served as the Committeewoman for the Nassau County Democratic Party.
In November of 1988, Hooper served on the National Democratic Platform Committee. Her expertise in child welfare resulted in her drafting a plank on the National Democratic Platform on child-care for the National Democratic Convention.
Assemblywoman Hooper serves on the following legislative committees: Aging, Commerce, Industry and Economic Development, Education, Children and Families and Labor. Her legislative priorities include securing increased State funding for local school districts, fighting for drug rehabilitation programs and stricter enforcement of drug laws. She seeks to ensure safe, affordable housing for all New Yorkers and protecting our environment. In 1990, she established the Black/Latino Task Force to target the problems and concerns of minorities in the 18th Assembly District.
She has been appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly to serve on the Permanent Commission on Justice for Children. She also serves on the Democratic Study Group and hold office in the Women's Legislative Caucus.
Earlene Hooper Hooper resides in Hempstead with her husband, Thomas and their daughter, Charisse. They all worship at Antioch Baptist Church in Hempstead.
