A Living Legacy

This February, as we recognize Black History Month and its 100th anniversary, we're honored to be joined by brothers Andrew Young and Walter Young, namesakes of the Andrew & Walter Young Family YMCA. Ambassador Andrew Young's life of service spans the civil rights movement, Congress, the United Nations, and the Mayor's Office here in Atlanta. Throughout it all, his leadership has been grounded in dignity, justice, and a deep belief in the power of people and community. Dr. Walter Young has led with that same spirit through healthcare, education, and civic life, showing what sustained, community-rooted service looks like over time. In this conversation, we reflect on the meaning of Black History Month, the lessons of the civil rights movement, and how places like the YMCA help carry those values forward today. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✅ How Ambassador Andrew Young and Dr. Walter Young credit the YMCA Atlanta as a foundational space for developing community leadership and civic engagement from childhood through adulthood. ✅ How Black History Education was not a once-a-year observance for the Young brothers but a living legacy woven into church, school, and youth development programs 365 days a year. ✅ How the lessons of the Civil Rights Movement taught everyday people that service and leadership are inseparable, and why those values remain urgent during Black History Month's 100th Anniversary. ✅ How early access to swimming and youth programs through the YMCA and historically Black colleges shaped generations of leaders who went on to transform Atlanta history and beyond. Join the Y Connect Podcast to discover inspiring stories of transformation and wellness. Tune in for practical tips and community-driven insights on fitness transformation. Subscribe now to elevate your fitness journey! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction: Meet Ambassador Andrew Young and Dr. Walter Young for a Black History Month conversation on Civil Rights Legacy 02:03 Andrew Young shares how the story of the Amistad and Historically Black Colleges shaped his understanding of Black History Education 07:12 Walter Young reflects on growing up in New Orleans, where Black History Education and community leadership were part of everyday life 11:21 Ambassador Andrew Young discusses what connects every chapter of his life, including Congress, the United Nations, and YMCA Atlanta 12:47 The Young brothers share early YMCA youth development memories, including forming their own junior club and the role of civic engagement in their upbringing 17:14 Andrew Young explains how growing up in a mixed New Orleans neighborhood taught him the strategy of using his mind over his fists, shaping his work in the Civil Rights Movement 25:28 Dr. Walter Young describes launching a mobile dental healthcare access program serving rural communities during the height of segregation and education inequality 31:53 Andrew Young recalls using swimming and youth programs and lifesaving skills learned at YMCA Atlanta 36:07 Both brothers reflect on Atlanta history, Black History Month's 100th Anniversary and why community leadership is still calling us forward 42:40 Closing reflections from Ambassador Andrew Young and Dr. Walter Young on working with all people and the enduring living legacy of the YMCA Atlanta KEY TAKEAWAYS: 💎 The YMCA Atlanta was not simply a recreation center for the Young family. It was the original after-school program, a training ground for civic engagement, and a place where boys from all backgrounds learned to lead with dignity and purpose. 💎 Ambassador Andrew Young's father instilled a philosophy of "don't get mad, get smart," a mindset rooted in discipline and strategy that carried directly into his work alongside Dr. King during the Civil Rights Movement. 💎 The Black History Month 100th Anniversary is a moment to honor progress while acknowledging what remains unfinished. Atlanta's history proves that when communities invest in education and infrastructure, transformation follows. 💎 Dr. Walter Young's career in dental healthcare access and mobile health services throughout rural Louisiana was a direct extension of the service and leadership values both brothers absorbed through family, faith, and the YMCA. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Ambassador Andrew Young is a civil rights leader, diplomat, and public servant whose life of service spans more than six decades. He worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a key strategist and negotiator during the civil rights movement and played a role in advancing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Young went on to become the first Black congressman from Georgia since Reconstruction, later serving as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President Jimmy Carter, where he helped shape the nation's first Africa policy centered on human rights. From 1982 to 1990, he served two terms as Mayor of Atlanta, leading the city's transformation ...