“Many of the social ills that impact people of color in the United States are rooted in poverty and lack of economic leverage, and I have spent the majority of my career working to create economic opportunity for underserved populations through financial education and workforce development,” Jason Young writes. “We have some of the most dynamic alumni in the world, and I’m excited about possibilities for social change and economic impact that arise from strengthening the HAA’s connective tissue.”

Young is co-founder and managing partner at Totally Human, an inclusive design studio. Previously, he launched MindBlown Labs, which helps millennials engage in retirement planning through gamification. He served on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans, charged with promoting future financial stability and increasing economic mobility. Young also co-founded the Hidden Genius Project, which trains Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. 

An early board member of Harvard Black Alumni Society, Young urges Harvard “to recruit, mentor, and advance diverse and inclusion-minded faculty“ and to “support and fully fund Ethnic Studies programs AND incorporate multicultural components in courses outside of Ethnic Studies.”