AmbassadorAndrew Young will be the final speaker this spring of the Southern UniversityMotivational Speakers Series. The chairman of Goodworks International, a globalconsulting firm, will speak Thursday, April 28 in the Debose Annex musicbuilding recital hall at 10 a.m.
Young, alsoan ordained minister and author, served two terms as the mayor of Atlanta andthree terms in the U.S. Congress for the 5th District of Georgia.
In thebeginning of his career, Young was a top aide to civil right’s activist Dr.Martin Luther King, and was named the Ambassador to the Untied Nations in 1977by former president Jimmy Carter.
AmbassadorYoung is one of the three co-founding chairmen of Goodworks International, aleading international consulting firm, which has allowed him to expand hisvision of economic development in Africa and the Caribbean.
Some of hisother accomplishments include serving as chairman of the $100 million SouthernAfrica Enterprise Development Fund, and various events fostering sound publicpolicy, economic development, human rights and education.
Young mostrecently served as president of the National Council of Churches in an effortto give back to the churches and ecumenical movements he deems critical to hislife. He said his tenure with theNCC forced him to transcend his Southern roots and prejudices allowing him tosee religion as a global force.
Today,Ambassador Young often sets time aside to talk to various schools and universitieson a range of issues that consist of less talk about racism and more aboutpoverty, which he feels is a symptom of racism and insecurities.
“Ianticipate he will talk a little about all those issues,” said Dr. RaymondDowns, vice chancellor for Student Affairs.
AmbassadorYoung has managed to remain active in community matters while setting timeaside to speak at various universities and schools, Downs added.
“Ifyou don’t have a class we encourage you to come out and hear him speak,”Downs said.