Dean Young has been with The Boys and Girls Club of Easton since 1981. He started there as a Program Assistant. After serving in that role for three years, he was named the acting Director. Just two years later he was offered and accepted the position as the Executive Director of the agency. Working with children is apart of Dean’s DNA. He watched as his father performed his pastoral duties with great emphasis being put on improving the human condition within and the community-at-large. Little did he know that his father’s story would become a part of his story as well. He was felt obligated to be a part of an organization that gave youth a safe place where they could learn, socialize, and find hope. The Boys and Girls Club affords Dean with this opportunity to connect with youth and to grow the resources required for social re-engineering within the community he actually was raised in – the Southside of Easton.
Dean has accomplished a lot throughout his community, but he is most proud of influencing the revenue, creating/maintaining community partnerships, and the capacity building necessary to establish the newest state-of-the-art community garden. Within the garden, individuals and families are able to grow fresh, healthy produce for less money while increasing Easton’s food security. The garden will continue to foster relationships with neighbors and within the community.
Dean attended Millersville University and is affiliated with Color of Justice, Kiwanis Club of Easton, Lehigh Valley Justice Institute, United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley, Diversity Alliance with the Easton Area School District, and the NAACP – Easton Branch. He likes reading and writing poetry, playing golf, horseback riding, trail walking/hiking and is a lover of all sports. Dean is married to Julie and they have two daughters (Gabrielle and Deanna) and one son (Jonathan).
Dean became a part of AACE because he has always longed for a healthy collaboration and partnership among agencies and faith-based organizations whose focus is on the underserved within Easton and the Lehigh Valley. He sees and hopes AACE is the mechanism that reunites “the village”. It will be an intentional opportunity to share the many resources, unrealized power, and influence within the Black community.”