Jamaal Young is a graduate of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, where he majored in Culture and Politics and minored in Women’s Studies. He is currently the Program Officer for Commercial Closet, a non-profit organization that guides corporate advertisers and their ad agencies on producing advertising that is free of homophobia and inclusive of the lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender (LGBT) community.

Prior to this position, Jamaal was a seasoned political advocate, effectively educating Congress and other decision-makers on education, healthcare, and community service policy on behalf of a number of non-profit groups, including the American Geriatrics Society Cross, the National Service-Learning Partnership, and City Year. This advocacy built off his lifelong commitment to service, best evidenced by his being a leader in the arena of youth-led community service, a topic on which he authored a book entitled Route to Success. Jamaal has also gotten involved in the nitty-gritty world of campaign politics, helping to lead outreach efforts to African-American, Latino, and LGBT voters for the Democratic National Committee during the 2004 election cycle. In 2005 he trained community activists in Texas, California, and New York to fight various upcoming anti-gay ballot initiatives.

Beyond his academic and professional life, Jamaal grew up in the theatre, and has performed in the Laramie Project, Angels in America, and in several improv events. He is an avid traveler and has lived for a number of years in Germany, Spain, and across several American states. He currently resides in New York City, which he loves more than any other place he has called home.