Patrick Young

Patrick M. Young is a nationally recognized leader in workforce development, economic empowerment, and community innovation, with over two decades of experience designing transformative programs for nonprofits and justice-impacted communities. He serves as Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development at Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP), where he leads national strategies to connect underserved populations with career pathways, employer partnerships, and future-of-work skills. Patrick is also the Founder and CEO of 4 Social Peace, the nation’s first digital community violence intervention organization, pioneering efforts across social media, gaming, and metaverse platforms to reduce online harm and create safer digital spaces. A W.K. Kellogg Foundation Global Fellow, graduate of the University of Chicago’s Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy, and alumnus of Georgetown University’s New Strategies Rising Program, Patrick blends policy expertise, technology adoption, and grassroots engagement to drive impact. An advocate for preparing the social sector for the AI era, Patrick integrates artificial intelligence, VR/AR, and immersive learning into workforce and nonprofit training including partnerships with VEDX to advance experiential education. His Growth by AI: Improve Your AI IQ session equips nonprofit leaders with practical, ethical, and future-focused AI strategies to enhance efficiency, storytelling, and mission delivery. Patrick is the author of A Way Up: Economic Development Post Incarceration, and his work has been featured by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Forbes, and Rolling Out.