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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 13, 2017 12:18 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Jordan A. Harris |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Condolence Resolution Honoring the Life and Accomplishments of Ahmeenah Young |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce a resolution honoring the life and accomplishments of Ahmeenah Young. On Friday, June 2, 2017, Ahmeenah Young, the first African American and first female to become president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, sadly passed away at the age of 69 after a battle with cancer. A native of South Philadelphia, Ms. Young began her career as a pioneer for the people after attending Temple University, including working for the American Friends Service Committee, an organization that works to end discrimination, violence, and mass incarceration while building peace, economic justice, and defending human rights. Ms. Young was highly regarded in the hospitality and tourism industries, serving as vice president of corporate diversity at SearchWide LLC and general manager of the Independence Visitor Center. Working for the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority for over 20 years, Ms. Young became president and CEO in 2008, after serving as the director of the affirmative action team and occupying other management positions within the Convention Center. Throughout her life, Ms. Young fought tirelessly for equal rights and the empowerment of minorities, which was evidenced by her work to ensure that one-third of the Convention Center’s $787 million expansion, completed in 2011, was contracted to disadvantaged and small business owners, women, and minorities. Remembered for her vivaciousness, intelligence, and passion for Pennsylvania, Ms. Young dedicated her time to a variety of charitable ventures throughout the Commonwealth, including Governor Wolf’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs, the Philadelphia Eagles Oversight Committee for Affirmative Action, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, to name a few. Ms. Young was also appointed as a commissioner to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on October 7, 2016, and, more recently, was appointed to the board of directors of the Philadelphia Tribune. I hope you will join me in honoring the life and accomplishments of Ahmeenah Young by co-sponsoring this condolence resolution. |