September 2021 Phenomenal Woman in Leadership
Stephanie Young
Michigan State Rep. Stephanie A. Young is in her first term as state representative of Michigan’s 8th House District, serving northwest Detroit, including the Bethune, Brightmoor, Castle Rouge, College Park, Crary St. Marys, and Grandmont-Rosedale communities.
After graduating from Cass Technical High School and Michigan State University’s James Madison College, Rep. Young’s first professional job was as a legislative aide to a former State Representative. Through her work with several former state representatives, numerous mayoral administrations and community advocacy organizations, including the Detroit Area Agency on
Aging, Young has put her leadership and relationship building skills to use to improve the lives of her community members at every step.
Prior to her work with the Legislature, Rep. Young served as the first Executive Director of Detroit’s Community Education Commission, where she worked diligently to help improve educational outcomes for Detroit students by eliminating barriers to success and improving access to transportation, quality afterschool programs and information for parents. Young brings her incredible passion for the residents of Detroit, demonstrated outstanding leadership
capabilities and a fresh perspective to her role at the Capitol.
Additionally, Rep. Young is a licensed and ordained Elder in the Christian faith. In ministry she is quite simply known as ‘Elder Steph”. Called to be an Evangelist, her passion for spreading the Gospel led her to the streets of Detroit. She has organized and led teams on street evangelism missions and is currently completing a street ministry curriculum to be used by others called ‘outside the church’s four walls’. During the summer of 2017, she was blessed to
become a street corner preacher – microphone in one hand and the scripture in the other, in Toronto, ON. It was one of the most exciting things she had ever done, all to the glory of her God.
Rep. Young is the proud mother of two sons, both graduates of the legendary Cass Technical High School. During the pandemic in 2020, her oldest received his Bachelor’s in Animation from the University of St. Francis and her youngest will be graduating in September 2021 with a finance degree from Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business. She is also the proud Mom-owner of her 4-legged adopted ‘son’ who has been part of her family for more than 10 years.