James Andrew Young became the first African American mayor of Philadelphia, MS on July 3, 2009. In Mayor Young’s own words he believes “that Philadelphia has made a huge step forward in our relationships, in our politics, and in our effort to bring change in our community.”
Young was born in rural Neshoba County and moved to Philadelphia as a small child in the early 1960’s with his parents, two brothers and three sisters. As a young man, he was laid off at U.S. Motors in 1975 and after about two weeks his father told him it was time to start looking for a job. “Back then my parents didn’t let us stay at the house,” Young said. “We had to go to work.”He graduated from Neshoba Central High School in 1973. He also completed and obtained certification for EMT Paramedic Training from Meridian Junior College and University Medical Center in Jackson, MS. James went on to serve his community for sixteen years as EMS Director at Neshoba General Hospital, and as EMT Instructor at East Central Community College located in Philadelphia, MS. He also positioned himself as a member of the Neshoba County Board of Supervisors in District 5 to continue in service. Finally, as Correction Officer for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and received training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center of the United States of America Department of Homeland Security.
The Mayor was featured on National Networks, including CNN, ABC, NBC, Fox News, ARD German Radio & TV, Newsweek, New York Times and South American Newspapers. The prestigious Humanitarian Award was bestowed upon him at the BET Awards Program in Los Angeles, CA in 2009. He was the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Civil Rights Award” from the Congress of Racial Equality in New York, 2010.
In 2010, the Honorable Governor Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. declared Young an “Honorary Hoosier”. Young was a guest speaker at the University of Indiana; Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN; Pine Bluff Arkansas Freedom Fund Banquet; the NAACP of Kansas City, as well as other municipalities of the South. He also participated in the Diversity Lecture Series in 2009 to 2010 held at the University of Texas at Dallas.
Mayor Young pledges to move Philadelphia forward by any means necessary. “We are going to work hard and we are going to pray hard. We are going to fuss and yes, we may fight, but the job is going to get done in Philadelphia.” Young always remembers those who gave their life for what you see in me and others today. He speaks passionately about his love for Philadelphia and pledges to remain active and involved with a special emphasis on economic development, job creation, and constituent services.
In the global arena, he is currently serving on the Board of Trustees of the Allied African Nations Chamber of Commerce in New York City, promoting American business abroad in 34 African member nations. Young is also pastor of a Pentecostal church in Louisville for the past 18 years. Young is married to his beautiful wife Sheryl Young and they have one daughter, Shanda.
