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MU
RIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
November 6, 2025
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142; D.C. Official Code § 1- 523.01), and pursuant to section 2 of the Commission on African-
American Affairs Establishment Act of 2012, effective March 14, 2012 (D.C. Law 19 -106; D.C.
Official Code § 3-1441), I am pleased to nominate the following individual:
Ms. Yolanda Young
54th Street, SE
Washington, DC 20019
(Ward 7)
for reappointment as a public member of the Commission on African-American Affairs, for a term to
end July 8, 2027.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-m entioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel B owser
Mayor
1
2 airman Phil Mendelson
3 at the request of the Mayor
4
5
6 A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
7
8
9
10 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
11
12
13
14
15 To confirm the reappointment of Yolanda Young to the Commission on African-American
16 Affairs.
17
18 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
19 resolution may be cited as the "Commission on African-American Affairs Yolanda Young
20 Confirmation Resolution of 2025".
21 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the reappointment of:
22
23 Yolanda Young
24 54th Street, SE
25 Washington, DC 20019
26 (Ward 7)
27
28 as a public member of the Commission on African-American Affairs, pursuant to section 2 of the
29 Commission on African-American Affairs Establishment Act of 2012, effective March 14, 2012
30 (D.C. Law 19-106; D.C. Official Code§ 3-1441), for a term to end July 8, 2027.
31 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
32 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
33 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
YOLANDA YOUNG
EDUCATION
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER, Washington, D.C.
Juris Doctor, 1995
HOWARD UNIVERSITY,Washington, D.C.
Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting, 1991
BIO
Yolanda Young is the president and executive director of Lawyers of Color, a nonprofit
devoted to promoting diversity in the legal profession and advancing democracy and
equality in marginalized communities. The organization is an outgrowth ofOn Being a
Black Lawyer, which Yolanda founded in 2008. In addition to producing events,
conferences, and publications including Power Issue, Caucus Issue, Hot List, and Legal
Diversity Issue, Yolanda collaborates with media organizations to publish reports and
studies, such asWhy Black Lawyers Matter, which appeared in The Guardian.
Yolanda has appeared on news shows on CNN, NPR, BET TV One, and many local
affiliates and since 2003, she has been an opinion contributor to USA TODAY. She’s
shared her perspective on everything from “Hip-hop putting its best foot forward” to
“Blacks’ economic crack-up.” Her most recent column was “Kavanaugh confirmation
exemplifies American justice system divided by wealth, class” on October 7, 2008.
Yolanda’s work has also appeared in The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle,
and Essence Magazine.
In 2003 Random House published Yolanda’s memoir, On Our Way To Beautiful, which
received widespread critical praise. The Washington, DC Commission on the Arts and
Humanities honored her with the Emerging Artist Award. The author has been featured
on the Oprah Winfrey Show, NPR and Black Entertainment Television (BET). She has
testified before the United States Congress regarding domestic violence and Head Start
and addressed audiences at Harvard Law School, Vassar College, and Dillard
University. She was the keynote speaker for the 2011 National Black Pre-Law
Conference.
LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
President & Executive Director, LAWYERS OF COLOR
Washington, D.C., November 2008 - Present
Develops and oversees strategies to promote diversity in the legal profession and
advancing democracy and equality in marginalized communities. Conducts and
commissions research and studies regarding the intersection of the legal profession and
social justice. Oversees and manages the creation and curation of articles, blogs,
studies, and videos. Engages organization’s global online community advocates and
mobilizes change agents to respond quickly and forcefully to oppressive and damaging
policies and systems. Motivate business, political, and community leaders to effect
change and advance equality.
Staff Attorney, COVINGTON & BURLING LLP
Washington, D.C., February 2005 - August 2007
Prepared legal pleadings and motions. Provided issue analysis. Reviewed documents
for content and privilege in large-scale litigation cases and government investigations.
Drafted and reviewed documents in preparation for litigation.
Contract Attorney, VARIOUS LAW FIRMS
Washington, D.C., February August 1998 - January 2005
Provided clients with legal advice in civil or criminal trials. Managed litigation cases and
resolved legal disputes on behalf of clients by developing agreements, negotiating
contacts, settling claims. Completed extensive case-related research into relevant laws
and regulations, drafted and interpreted contracts and legal documents, and oversaw
compliance to these documents.
Grant/Contract Specialist, NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
Bethesda, MD, August 1996 - July 1998
Advised contractors on issues relating to sole source justification, Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) disclosures, technology transfer agreements, and other statutes.
Developed and reviewed contract/acquisition plans and analyzed requirements.
Evaluated the business management capability and performance of applicant
organizations and awardees, as well as, the internal operating procedures associated
with the business management aspects of the financial assistance process. Interpreted
and developed financial assistance policy.
Legal Clerk, NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATION
Washington, DC, May 1994 - December 1995
Researched law and drafted memoranda on various issues in injury and non-injury
arbitration cases. Assisted Member Contract Advisors in the interpretation and
implementation of the NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement and Agent Code of
Conduct. Advised agents on contract structuring and the effect of potential contracts on
the NFL teams’ salary cap.
PUBLICATIONS
BOOKS
Thurgood’s Legacy (Forthcoming)
On Our Way To Beautiful (Random House 2003)
The Black Body (Contributor: Seven Stories Press 2009)
This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women
(Contributor: Henry Holt & Co. 2006)
Shaking The Tree, An Anthology of Black Women Writers (Contributor: Norton 2005)
SELECTED ESSAYS
“Kavanaugh confirmation exemplifies American justice system divided by wealth, class.”
USA TODAY, October 7, 2018.
“Is there any evidence the father abused the child?” Shreveport Times, September 19,
2016.
“America's death penalty capital: can a black DA really change the system?.” The
Guardian, March 13, 2016.
Why the US needs black lawyers even more than it needs black police.” The Guardian,
May 11, 2015.
“Obama’s Fumble On Affirmative Action.”USA Today, November 6, 2008.
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS AND OTHER APPEARANCES
The Story of Georgetown Law's Class
of 1995. Invited
presenter. National HBCU
Pre-Law Summit, Saturday, September 7, 2017.
The State of Black Professionalism: Media Images. Invited panelist. NBLSA National
Convention. Houston, TX, March 12, 2011 (Scheduled).
Social Justice Activism: A Roundtable Discussion on New Strategies to Empower Our
Communities. Invited panelist. Harvard BLSA Spring Conference. Cambridge, MA,
March 4, 2011 (Scheduled).
E
xecutive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Y
olanda Young
M
s. Yolanda Young is the president and executive director of Lawyers of
Color, a nonprofit devoted to promoting diversity in the legal profession
and advancing democracy and equality in marginalized communities. The
organization is an outgrowth of On Being a Black Lawyer, which
Yolanda founded in 2008. In addition to producing events, conferences,
and publications including Power Issue, Caucus Issue, Hot List, and Legal
Diversity Issue, Ms. Young collaborates with media organizations to
publish reports and studies, such as Why Black Lawyers Matter, which
appeared in The Guardian.
Ms. Young has appeared on news shows on CNN, NPR, BET TV One,
and many local affiliates and since 2003. She has also been an opinion
contributor to USA TODAY. She has shared her perspective on everything from “Hip-hop putting
its best foot forward” to “Blacks’ economic crack-up.” Her most recent column was “Kavanaugh
confirmation exemplifies American justice system divided by wealth, class”. Ms. Young’s work
has also appeared in The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, and Essence Magazine.
In 2003, Random House published Ms. Young’s memoir, On Our Way To Beautiful, which
received widespread praise. The District’s Commission on the Arts and Humanities honored her
with the Emerging Artist Award. She has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, NPR and
Black Entertainment Television (BET). She has testified before the United States Congress
regarding domestic violence and Head Start and addressed audiences at Harvard Law School,
Vassar College, and Dillard University.
A Ward 7 resident, Ms. Young earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
from Howard University, and her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Kimberly A. Bassett, Steven Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: June 4, 2025
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of a resolution appointing Philip Pannell, Jacqueline
Stallworth, Yolanda Young, Kristin Shymoniak, Rashida Taylor, Dr. Denise
Wright, Jalelah Ahmed, Lakeitha Anderson, Ben-James Brown, and Wanda
Henderson as public members of the Commission on African-American Affairs
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced Resolutions and
found them to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Kimberly Ulan, Associate General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at
202-727-2292, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth Cavendish