Vanessa Baird-Streeter attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double major in Economics and Education.  Upon graduating from Dartmouth, Vanessa joined Wall Street investment bank Goldman Sachs and as a financial analyst, Vanessa worked in the financial industry for a total of ten years serving as a financial analyst and bond buyer. She has also served as the Director of the Ministry to Catholics of African Ancestry (1997-2005), Director of Communications for the Town of Babylon (2005-2009), Executive Director and Vice President of Communications for the Long Island Power Authority 2009-2012, Director of the Venettes Cultural Workshop, CEO of VBS Hair Collection and most recently served as the first woman of color to hold the position of Suffolk County Deputy County Executive (DCE). As of Febraury 5, 2024, Vanessa serves as the President and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island.

In the role of Deputy County Executive, Vanessa oversaw a wide variety of County agencies, projects, and initiatives: Community Based Intervention, Language Access operations, the Department of Labor Licensing and Consumer Affairs, the Traffic and Parking Violations Bureau, an early education pilot entitled; Smart Start Suffolk that focussed on the social emotional development children 0-5 years of age, their families and community, and, the Suffolk County Department of Human Services which housed the Youth Bureau, Women’s Services, the Offices of Minority Affairs, Aging, and Veterans Services. Additionally, Vanessa served as one of the County’s Police Accountability Liaisons and led the County’s MWBE/SDVOB (Minority, Women, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned businesses) Disparity Study aimed at providing the legal framework for establishing MWBE/SVDOB requirements as part of the County’s procurement process.

In September 2020, County Executive Bellone appointed Vanessa to serve as chair of the Suffolk County Police Reform and Reinvention Task Force leading the effort of Reform and Reinvention of the Suffolk County Police Department. Throughout seven-month reform plan process, Vanessa facilitated executive and sub-committee meetings of the Suffolk County Police Reform & Reinvention Task Force, led public listening sessions that provided opportunities for over 1,200 Suffolk County community members to share their recommendations on police reform and met with hundreds of stakeholders to ascertain suggestions regarding fair and equitable policing in Suffolk County. At the end of the process, Vanessa and her team produced a final report which serves as the framework and foundation for 21st century, community-oriented reform and reinvention of the Suffolk County Police Department. Suffolk County’s plan has been deemed as the most comprehensive Police Reform plan in New York State.  Vanessa leads the implementation team to effectuate the reform and reinvention plans.

Very early on during the COVID 19 pandemic, Vanessa led the effort of creating hot spot testing sites in underserved and under resourced communities to ensure residents had access to testing, guidelines, resources and assistance.  This initiative helped to stem the spread of COVID 19 and ensure the health and safety of the County’s most vulnerable populations.  During the pandemic, DCE Baird-Streeter also created the Suffolk Cares Food Distribution initiative for those who lacked transportation but were food insecure and needed food delivered to their homes. As the COVID 19 vaccine became available, Vanessa worked with a myriad of community based organizations to ensure equitable distribution of the vaccine.  As the digital divide hampered some residents from securing vaccine appointments, Vanessa worked with the County’s IT Commissioner to create a streamlined, abbreviated appointment process as to make it as easy as possible for residents to access appointments. In addition, Vanessa spearheaded education campaigns addressing vaccine hesitancy

Being of service to others is the motto Vanessa lives by which was inspired by her parents, Venice and Mary Baird. She has been married for 31 years to Elston Streeter and is the proud parent of Dallas Anthony Streeter, a graduate of Howard University.

Vanessa is a member of the Long Island Power Authority Board of Trusteesof Jack, Associate Member of Jill of America-Suffolk County Chapter and has served as Chaplain and Scholarship Chair, founding member of 100 Black Women, Inc.-Suffolk County Chapter, former member of 100 Black Women Long Island Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., former member of the Mother’s Club of Wheatley Heights, and Board Member of Help Me Grow Long Island,

Vanessa serves as the Vice Chair of the Wyandanch Plaza Association, where she implements and supports programming for the youth of the communities inclusive of Summer Reading Around the Plaza, collection of toys for community families, support of Thanksgiving baskets and year round programming.  Vanessa served as the Chair and member of the Wyandanch Community Engagement Team, created while the district was in Superintendent’s receivership, ensuring that the community was included in the process of improving the academic achievements of students.

With 20 years of experience in Long Island’s non-profit sector, Lori has worked with Long Island’s leading regional non-profit organizations creating systemic social change.  Since 2010, Lori has been with the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI), first as the Senior Director of Planning and Development and now as the Chief Operations Officer.  Lori manages funder relationships and grant writing contributes to strategic planning and oversees key organizational advocacy and programming.  

Prior to HWCLI, Lori was the Director of Development and Communications at Sustainable Long Island and a consultant on the Rauch Foundation’s Long Island Index.  She has also worked with ERASE Racism, Planned Parenthood of NYC and Amityville School District Night School as an ESL teacher. She worked for a Continuing Medical Education (CME) company conducting needs assessments and outcomes evaluations for educational programs for physicians and pharmacists. 

Lori is a Co-chair of the Steering Committee of Medicaid Matters NY. Lori is a graduate of the Energeia Regional Stewardship Program, Molloy College, Class of 2013; 40 Under 40, Long Island Business News, Class of 2010; and Research Fellow, Alliance-Merck Professional Development Fellowship, 2002-2003.

Lori has a BS in Healthcare and Welfare Policy Analysis from Cornell University and a Masters of Science in International Administration from Central Michigan University.  Lori completed the Master’s Degree in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico where she lived for four years studying, teaching and working for the US State Department. A native Long Islander, Lori lives in Syosset with her husband, two children, and a dog, Luna.  She enjoys running, reading and writing.