Marion Blackburn serves as the District 3 representative to City Council in Greenville, N.C.

After growing up on a tobacco farm in Edgecombe County, Marion completed her education in Chapel Hill and graduate work in Paris before returning to teach in the Rocky Mount public schools. In 1992, Marion moved to Greenville to work at the Daily Reflector.

Today she works as a freelance writer and project manager.

She previously served as the District 3 representative to the Neighborhood Advisory Board, which represents neighborhoods throughout the City. She also served as a member of the Convention and Visitors Authority, which promotes tourism and related business activity in Greenville.

• District 3 representative, Neighborhood Advisory Board (current)
• Convention and Visitors Authority member (2007-current)
• Greenville Climate Protection Partnership (2007-current)
• Greenville African American Heritage Museum (current)
• Friends of Greenville Greenways (current)
• Neighborhood Association co-president (current)
• Mental Health Association president (2005-06) volunteer (2004-06)
• Church study group leader (2000-2003), St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Marion Blackburn's volunteer work began more than 23 years ago when she joined the “Big Brother, Big Sister” program and she has served as a patient advocate, mentor to youth and volunteer tutor.

Her experience as a project manager on large projects gives her a distinctive "action-based" approach to successfully completing complex and difficult projects.

Crime and safety are vital areas of focus, and she proposes a system of email alerts, as well as a comprehensive analysis of crime throughout the City, to address this top concern for Greenville residents.

She has served as a charter member of the City's Neighborhood Advisory Board, working to strengthen neighborhoods throughout the City. She is also a charter member of the Climate Protection Partnership, a working group developing strategies for more energy efficiency in the City.

She is a strong advocate for greenways, sidewalks and other alternative transportation routes.

Her leadership and advocacy helped draw hundreds of people to public park meetings in 2008. The land is now part of the City’s Parks Master Plan.