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Councilmember Ivory Lee
Young Jr.
Council District 3
E-Mail Address: ilyoung at atlantaga.gov |
Office Location:
Staff Contacts:
Biography of Councilmember Ivory Lee Young, Jr. Ivory
Lee Young, Jr. was elected as councilmember of Atlanta City Council
District 3 in 2001. Lending himself to public service was preceded
by many years of committed community activism and service including his
family’s use of more than $150,000 in personal funds since 1992 to
assist inner city families with obtaining childcare services. Today,
as a third-term councilmember, Ivory Young, Jr. continues to work
tirelessly to effectively support the economic and social needs of
District 3 and the City of Atlanta. His strong leadership skills
have helped him to successfully negotiate and gain support for legislation
that has long-term positive impact on this city. Councilmember
Young believes government should be an honest, efficient deliverer of
services and that City Hall should help those citizens least able to help
themselves. In fact, he believes that the City of Atlanta should be a
national model for the compassionate, effective, and efficient delivery
of municipal services. Since
joining the Atlanta City Council, Councilmember Young has rendered
unprecedented service to the community – from the use of the U.S.
National Guard to demolish abandoned property in District 3 that the city
budget could not fund, to legislating funding to assist families with
property losses in a 2002 flood as well as providing support for those
devastated by the 2008 tornado that swept through several Atlanta
neighborhoods. Young
continues to listen to the voices of the community focusing on
opportunities to stimulate economic growth throughout the district and
improve the overall quality of life. He remains adamant about
protecting seniors and long-time residents to ensure that they enjoy safe
and viable neighborhoods in District 3 and impassioned about the
proliferation of abandoned and vacant parcels. Through legislation, he
promotes smart growth and redevelopment initiatives that will improve
blight while protecting the interest of the current homeowners. He
believes transforming neglected property reduces crime; improves the city
tax-base; and creates more vibrant, livable communities. He eagerly
desires to serve and represent District 3 and the City of Atlanta by
working in partnership with its stakeholders to accurately identify and
resolve concerns through sound ethical and professional practice. As
the District 3 representative, Councilmember Young has played an active
role in the redevelopment of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive corridor,
including working to get more than $65 million dollars designated to
complete the Historic Westside Village project. While redevelopment is a
key component to improving the district and fostering economic growth, the
welfare of the citizens is his primary focus. He understands that
great minds inhabit all of our neighborhoods regardless of the
demographics and that all citizens deserve the best public service,
economic opportunity, and environmental justice available. To
assist families in need, Councilmember Young hosts an annual senior
citizen outing for more than 300 District 3 seniors. He also distributes
1,000 food boxes to needy families at Thanksgiving, and donates toys to
children during the holiday at four locations in the community. In
1986, Young earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Hampton
University (Hampton,Va.) He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Inc., an active member of the National Organization of Minority Architects
(NOMA) and former Vice-President of the Atlanta Chapter. With over twenty
years of experience in Architectural, Planning, and Construction Program
Management firms, he has assisted in creating designs, plans, or served as
an advocate for establishing millions of dollars of development in
District 3. Councilmember
Ivory Lee Young, Jr. is a native of Butler Alabama, the eldest son of
Ivory L. Young Sr. and Susie Mae Young, a retired United States Sergeant
Major with a thirty year military career and a professional seamstress
that tailored uniforms for soldiers that included retired General Colin
Powell. He remains proud of his Alabama roots visiting the same
farms on which his parents were raised, instilling in him humility and a
realization that poverty is not a disease that can be caught. Throughout
his life, Young embraced the opportunity of extensive travel afforded him
through his father’s military service. Councilmember
Young and his wife, Shalise Steele-Young, reside in the historic Vine City
Neighborhood in Northwest Atlanta. The couple has two children. |
