Mark McLaughlin of Riverhead was honored by the Suffolk County Legislature yesterday as a “Champion of Diversity” in the First Legislative District.
Legislators in each of the county’s 18 legislative districts picked a resident of their district to be honored in the legislature’s 2024 Champions of Diversity program
McLaughlin was nominated for the honor by First District Legislator Catherine Stark.
McLaughin, 47, is chairperson of the Town of Riverhead Anti-Bias Task Force.
In a proclamation signed by Stark and presented to McLaughlin during ceremonies at yesterday’s general meeting in the Maxine Postal Auditorium at the county center in Riverhead, Stark praised McLaughlin as a “dedicated community advocate.”
The proclamation cites his organization of a Hispanic Heritage Month event at the Antigua Cafe in September and his collaboration with the Riverhead Central School District. McLaughlin coordinated the participation by Anti-Bias Task Force members in a presentation at the superintendent’s conference at the beginning of the school year. He also worked with the district on its 15th annual Black History Month celebration and produced the ABTF’s “Black History on Screen” event at the Suffolk Theater, featuring a showing of the film “Just Mercy” following a panel discussion with Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. and Riverhead Supervisor Tim Hubbard.
McLaughlin, a vocalist and entertainer, has performed the National Anthem at town events, including the 2024 Riverhead inauguration ceremonies on New Year’s Day. He has also performed the National Anthem at Citi Field, which he is scheduled to repeat at the start of the N.Y. Mets game on July 25.
He works as an aide to Assembly Member Jodi Giglio. He also co-hosts The Grey Report, a video talk show, with George Schwertl.
Correction: The article has been amended to correct an error in the name of the stadium where Mark McLaughlin sang the National Anthem to open up a New York Mets home game.
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