MY ATLANTA SERIES...Sketches Cont.

AMBASSADOR Andrew Young

Andrew Jackson Young (born March 12, 1932) is an American politician, diplomat and pastor from Georgia who has served as Mayor of Atlanta, a Congressman from the 5th district, and United States Ambassador to the United Nations. He served as President of the National Council of Churches USA, and was a supporter and friend of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University in Atlanta was named after him. International Boulevard, near the Centennial Olympic Park, has been re-named Andrew Young International Boulevard, in honor of his efforts to secure the Olympic bid for Atlanta.

n 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Young to serve as Ambassador to the UN, the first African-American to serve in the position. Young's controversial statements made headlines almost from the start. In August 1979, he appeared on Meet the Press and said that Israel was "stubborn and intransigent."^[3] Young met secretly for meetings, in violation of American law, with representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which culminated in Carter asking for Young's resignation.^[4] Jimmy Carter denied any complicity in The Andrew Young Affair.

As UN Ambassador, Young played a leading role in advancing a settlement in Zimbabwe with Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo.

In 1981, Young was elected mayor of Atlanta, succeeding Maynard Jackson. As mayor of Atlanta, he brought in $70 billion of new private investment, including the 1996 Olympic Games- making Atlanta the engine of prosperity for Georgia that it remains today.^{[citation needed]} He continued and expanded Maynard Jackson's programs for including minority and female-owned businesses in all city contracts. Atlanta1988 Democratic National Convention, and the Mayor's Task Force on Education established the Dream Jamboree College Fair that tripled the college scholarships given to Atlanta public school graduates. He also revamped the Atlanta Zoo, making ecological habitats specific to different animals.^{[citation needed]} hosted the Young was re-elected as Mayor in 1985 with more than 80% of the vote.

Source: Wikipedia

Ambassador Young, though Born in Louisiana is the reason Atlanta is what it is today...He has continued to mentor young Atlanta leaders and continues to strive to make this one of the greatest cities in the world...Yep he has a lot to do with why you love My City!!