DaMia Harris is a proud product of the City of Mount Vernon and has been employed with the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau since 2004. Prior to her appointment as Deputy Director in December 2007, Ms. Harris served in various leadership capacities for the Youth Bureau. Such appointments include WIA Youth Program Director, Youth Employment Coordinator and the Project Director for the Mount Vernon Police-Westchester County Probation Partnership Program.

Ms. Harris attended the Mount Vernon City School District and graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1995. Ms. Harris attended the University at Albany where she was selected to participate in the English Honors Program. In 1999, Ms. Harris received her Bachelors Degree with a dual major in English Honors and African American Studies. In 2007, Ms. Harris received a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Mercy College.

Ms. Harris’ contributions to the Youth Bureau have been measured most importantly by her accessibility and commitment to the families and youth of Mount Vernon. As a Human Resource Manager for Old Navy, Ms. Harris traveled to various stores to recruit young people to work.

Later, Ms. Harris joined the Urban League, which is a nationally recognized organization most known for their involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. Ms. Harris served as an administrator over the Urban League of Westchester’s Youth Cares Program. During her tenure at the Urban League, she worked closely with the Westchester County Department of Social Services, Probation and Family Court to provide alternatives to foster care, juvenile delinquency placements and adjudications.

Ms. Harris has also worked for Grace Church Samaritan House, where she assisted homeless and domestic violence victims, and Children’s Village where she provided in home therapy to parents of children with mental health disorders.

As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc., Mount Vernon Community That Cares and the African American Advisory Board to Westchester County Executive Andy Spano, Ms. Harris utilizes her knowledge in public service and program development to advocate and develop programs that strengthen the lives of local residents.