Meet Rep. Young

State Rep. Stephanie A. Young is serving her third term as a state representative, representing the 16th House District. Her district includes northwest Detroit — covering communities such as Brightmoor, Castle Rouge, West Outer Drive and Grandmont-Rosedale — along with southern portions of Livonia and Redford Charter Township. Previously, she represented the 8th District before redistricting. 

After graduating from Cass Technical High School and Michigan State University’s James Madison College, Young’s first professional job was as a legislative aide to a former state representative. Through her work with several former state representatives, numerous mayoral administrations and community advocacy organizations, including the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Young has put her leadership and relationship building skills to use to improve the lives of her community members at every step.

Prior to being elected, Young served as the first executive director of Detroit’s Community Education Commission, where she worked diligently to help improve educational outcomes for Detroit students by eliminating barriers to success and improving access to transportation, quality afterschool programs and resource information for parents. Young brings outstanding leadership capabilities, compassion and a fresh perspective to the Legislature.

Young is the proud mother of two sons, both graduates of the legendary Cass Technical High School.  Her older son earned his Bachelor’s in Animation from the University of St. Francis, and her younger son earned his Bachelor’s in Finance at Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business. She is also the proud mom-owner of her 4-legged adopted ‘son’ who has been part of her family for over 15 years. Young is also a licensed and ordained minister in the Christian faith and is affectionately known as Elder Steph. She is on the ministerial staff at her home church, Historic Pure Word Missionary Baptist Church, which is in her House District.

In her second term, Young was tied for the most bills signed into law with seven bills becoming public acts. She served as the chair of the Committee on Families, Seniors and Children. This term, she was elected as the chair of the Detroit Caucus, the chair of the House Democratic Caucus and the chaplain for the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus.  She previously served as the secretary for the Legislative Care and Legislative Disability caucuses, and she also served on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Child Welfare Task Force and the House Adoption and Foster Care Task Force. 

She is motivated by a simple saying, “Love is the work.”