Morten eventually became president of NOW and since led groups including the Women's Self-Employment Project and Chicago Abortion Fund.

This theatre company aimed to represent a community living under the dual minority status related to race and sexual orientation.

Through their poetry, prose, music, and vignettes, the group gave a voice to a community often silenced, while offering performances that reflected the universal.

In addition, Morten helped to found the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance and is a former board member of Chicago's Center on Halsted and of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

[5] In 2000, Mary Morten was named director of anti-violence prevention office for the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH).

[11] Morten is also currently producing a documentary inspired by the research of Cathy Cohen's work with the Black Youth Project, at the University of Chicago.