A published author, Marilyn Appleberg (b. January 6, 1944) has been committed to neighborhood betterment since she moved to the East Village in 1969. She is the founder and president of the 10th and Stuyvesant Streets Block Association, catalyst for improvement of the city park in front of St. Mark’s Church — as well as its renaming to Abe Lebewohl Park — and co-founder of the summer concert series there. She has been a leader in fighting for the preservation of the St. Mark’s Historic District and surrounding area.