Andrew Young

Andrew Young has served as a pivotal leader in the civil rights movement, a United States Congressman, Ambassador to the United Nations, and Mayor of Atlanta. After becoming the first African American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia since the Reconstruction era in 1972, Andrew Young went on to serve three terms, championing foreign policy, civil rights, and urban development. Prior to his election, Young graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Science in biology in 1951 and earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Hartford Seminary in 1955.

He resigned from his diplomatic post in 1979. Following his impactful service at the UN, Young successfully campaigned for Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, and was elected in 1981. Young served two terms as Mayor of Atlanta until 1990, during which he focused on attracting significant private investment and expanding economic opportunities for minority and female-owned businesses. His tenure also saw a strong emphasis on enhancing educational programs across the city.

A testament to his leadership and vision for Atlanta, he was instrumental as co-chair of the bid committee that successfully brought the prestigious 1996 Summer Olympic Games to the city. Continuing his commitment to public service and social impact, Young was elected President of the National Council of Churches, serving from 2000 to 2001. In 2003, he founded the Andrew Young Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting education, health, leadership development, and human rights globally.