| State Representative Gregory W. Porter is a member of the 120th Indiana General Assembly and represents the 96th Indiana House District in Indianapolis. He is currently Ranking Minority Member of the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee, and president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL). Porter also holds the position of Vice President of External Affairs for the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County.
As a member of the Indiana General Assembly, one of his notable achievements was authoring a resolution that renamed the section of Interstate Highway 65 from Seymour, Indiana, to Johnson County the "Tuskegee Airmen Highway." He is also the author of legislation that established accountability and standards for K-12 education, increased cultural competency and addressed bullying in schools.
As the 12th president of NBCSL, Porter leads nearly 700 black state legislators across 46 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The primary mission of NBCSL is educational, research and training programs designed to enhance the effectiveness of legislation that impacts, either directly or indirectly, upon "the general welfare" of African American constituents within their respective jurisdictions.
As senior vice president of External Affairs at Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Porter advises the president on strategies for communicating to and involving the community at large. He also facilitates relationships between the corporation and external stakeholders, and acts in the capacity of a community liaison.
Porter has held a number of board positions and other leadership roles within the state and at the national level. He is past chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus and the Indiana House Education Committee. Porter served on the National Taskforce for No Child Left Behind, the Council of State Government, the NAACP, and the Earlham College African American Advisory Board. He has chaired the education committees of the NBCSL, Council of State Governments and National Caucus of State Legislators.
He also serves on a variety of other community/neighborhood based organizations including-
Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis, Inc.
Indiana Sports Corporation; board of directors
Indianapolis Urban League; board of directors
Kennedy/King Memorial Initiative; chair
Indiana Black Expo Executive Committee
Mapleton Fall Creek Community Development Corporation
National Black Nurses Association, Indianapolis Chapter Advisory Board
Indianapolis Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen
Some of the numerous awards Porter has received include the NAACP - 2015 Pathfinder Award, Martin Center Distinguished Sickle Cell Champion Award, Indianapolis Urban League - 2015 Servant Leadership Legacy Award, Prevent Child Abuse of Indiana Leadership Award, Indiana Early Care Education Legislative Award, Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education Award, Indiana School Counselors Association Friend of Youth Award, Eagle Award from the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, Eli Lilly Legislator of the Year Award, and the Marion County Commission on Youth Holiday Honors Award.
Porter is a native of Indianapolis, a graduate of Shortridge High School and holds a bachelor of arts degree from Earlham College, which has named him an Outstanding Alumni. He has also been inducted into the Shortridge High School Hall of Fame and the Indianapolis Public Schools Hall of Fame. He graduated from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Program in 2001 and served on the Harvard Working Group on Early Childhood Science and Policy. He has an honorary doctorate degree from Martin University, Indianapolis.
He is a faithful member of Phillips Temple C.M.E. church where he serves as trustee and is on the usher board. Greg and his wife, Yvette, have three children. |