Jeffery Young, Jr., represents the city’s 5th Council District, which encompasses many North Philadelphia neighborhoods east of Broad Street, such as Hunting Park, Fairhill, Yorktown, Ludlow, Poplar, parts of South Kensington, Northern Liberties, and Fishtown. The district also expands to Lower North Philadelphia, west of Broad Street which includes Stanton, Cecil B. Moore, Strawberry Mansion, Brewerytown, Sharswood, Francisville, Fairmount, and the Center City neighborhoods of Spring Garden, Logan Square, and parts of Rittenhouse Square.
A current resident of North Philadelphia and Democratic Committee member in the 32nd Ward, Jeffery is a dedicated public servant committed to affording opportunities to those who do not have the means to access those opportunities for themselves. Councilman Young continues to fight to enhance the quality of life for all residents, reduce gun violence, improve educational outcomes, ensure sustainable and equitable development, make targeted investments in our youth, increase economic and entrepreneurial opportunities, reform public safety institutions, and provide equitable access to justice, health and the environment.
Raised in Philadelphia, Councilman Young attended Girard College, a prestigious elementary and secondary education boarding school for academically capable students from low income, single parent families. At Girard, he gained his passion for service and fighting for what’s right. As a high school senior, Jeffery interned for former Council President and 5th District Councilmember Darrell L. Clarke, which afforded him the opportunity to experience public service firsthand. Throughout college Jeffery worked as an aide in the Managing Director’s Office for the City of Philadelphia during the John Street Administration; and was appointed as the first 5th District Commissioner on the Philadelphia Youth Commission. While at Rutgers School of Law, the Councilman interned at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Register of Wills, and for United States Senator Bob Casey in the Washington D.C. office. Councilman Young also received the Governor’s Executive Fellowship from the Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics. Upon passing the Pennsylvania bar exam, he served as Legislative Counsel to Council President Clarke working on policies and legislation that effected the 5th District, including zoning and affordable housing.
As an attorney, Jeffery has represented clients on real estate matters, provided general governance to small business and non-profit corporations, and assisted clients with estate planning. He served on numerous boards and commissions including the City of Philadelphia’s Mayor’s Commission on African American Males, the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia, the Union Benevolent Association, and the Board of Directors for the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation. Jeffery was selected as a fellow with the New Leaders Council, a national organization working to recruit, train and promote young progressive leaders, and Leadership Philadelphia’s Connectors and Keepers program.
Councilman Young received his B.A. in Political Science, with a focus on urban policy from Temple University, and a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers School of Law-Newark in Newark, New Jersey.