Biography

As a seasoned executive in the field of Public Administration Mario Hamblin is the current Director of Congregate Care for Safe Space Inc. An agency that provides family services in south Jamaica and far rockaway Queens for the past 96 years. Mario Hamblin is responsible for (2) residential programs for runaway homeless teens, is a liaison to (2) drop in centers and advisor for (1) mental Health facility, governed by DYCD, OCFS & the Department of Health. Additionally, Mario volunteers as a guest lecturer at Hostos Community College in the Behavioral & social science department. Mario is a sitting board member for his local community education and senior development center where he provides direction, recommendations and decisions that govern programs for adolescents, teenagers, Immigrants and adults who are returning into society as productive clean citizens. Prior to Joining the Safe Space team Mario was a senior program manager for the New York City Housing Authority, who are the nation’s largest landlords and provide all additional servicing to their residents above and beyond meeting their housing need. As a Senior Program Manager he was responsible for oversight and direction to (32) community centers and (16) senior centers. Mario came to this country in the 70’s from London, England, the son of a bus driver and a factory worker. Mario was flushed into the American way of life living in Brooklyn, learning football in the streets and basketball through the fire escapes. Mario’s family soon moved to Queens to avoid the rising crime and gang development at the local Brooklyn schools, which proved to be a positive turning point in his life as he was then able to meet other young people who were culturally diverse as he & offered opportunities for him to play his natural sport of Soccer at free will with people who were seeking similar dreams and aspirations. He was highly recognized in New York City as a top athlete from Newtown High School sports programs and was awarded (2) athletic scholarships, Soccer and Track & Field to Southern Connecticut State University. Mario graduated with a teacher’s degree in Education (BS) with a minor in Health Sciences and was hired by his field placement school as an elementary “exercise instructor”. He soon returned to New York City and landed his first full time job at “The Boys Club of New York” in the lower east side of Manhattan where he stayed for (8) years. After the Boys club he moved on to “The City Kids foundation”, “MetaNetworks”, LaGuardia Community College “Inmate Education program” at Rikers Island, The Department of Juvenile Justice and the New York City Housing Authority. His many years of public service was honored as he was chosen as the only recipient from this state to become a “Kellogg National Fellow” where he earned a Masters Certificate and a wealth of knowledge while traveling the world studying “Public policy & community development around governmental funding and the effects of the trickledown theory locally.” At Safe Space Mario is a member of the Managerial Analyst group who serve at the will of the CEO and the board of directors to develop strategies to forecast and position the agency to meet the community need as we struggle with the shortfalls the federal government and our city’s current fiscal crisis. Mario has a reputation for being a highly structured strategic thinker who advocates for young people and their families, while also sharing their belief that they “Can do it”.