It’s an all-American story: a young boy grows up in poverty, seemingly destined to be a statistic, but instead fights the odds and achieves one accomplishment after another. First as Valedictorian for his High School class, then a degree from Notre Dame and ultimately selected to serve his district as State Representative. But if you ask Jesse, these wouldn’t be his greatest accomplishments. His wife, Jennie, and five wonderful children are what he cares about most.
As a young boy in grade school, Jesse Young bounced around between thirteen different apartments and living arrangements, including the streets of Hilltop and Salishan. Violence was common and the streets were harsh, but it motivated Jesse to get out of poverty and make a better life. Eventually, with lots of providence, the love of a hard-working mom, caring teachers and counselors, and sheer determination Jesse's hard work began to pay-off, one step at a time.
Jesse had all the street smarts anyone could ever want, but he learned to turn his attention to the books and ultimately was chosen as Valedictorian for his graduating class at Wilson High School in Tacoma. Jesse knew he needed to get a quality education if he was going to break the vicious cycle of poverty.
Because of his academic accomplishments in High School, Jesse was named a Washington State Scholar by the State Legislature and accepted into one of the nation’s most prestigious and storied colleges – the University of Notre Dame. Armed with academic scholarships and a part time job washing dishes, Jesse earned a degree in Management Information Systems. Jesse and Jennie then moved to Silicon Valley to work in the high tech industry which allowed him to travel extensively and develop global experience in the technology trade. Ultimately, the Youngs came home to Gig Harbor, started their family, and Jesse started his consulting business.
Homeless on the Streets of Tacoma It’s an all-American story: a young boy grows up in poverty, seemingly destined to be a statistic, but instead fights the odds and achieves one accomplishment after another. First as Valedictorian for his High School class, then a degree from Notre Dame and ultimately selected to serve his district as State Representative. But if you ask Jesse, these wouldn’t be his greatest accomplishments. His wife, Jennie, and five wonderful children are what he cares about most. There is nothing Jesse is more proud of than his family. He takes being a role model for his five kids seriously and works really hard to teach them to overcome the challenges of life that he knows all too well. Who better to teach self-reliance and hard work than someone who started from nothing?
From the streets of Tacoma to serving in the State House…what a journey! Jesse Young was unanimously appointed in January 2014 by Democratic and Republican officials to serve as the State Representative for Legislative District 26, Position 1 after the seat became vacant. The district ranges from Bremerton to Port Orchard to Gig Harbor and a lot of rural areas in between. As a Representative, Jesse has proven he is not just a yes vote for his party but takes careful consideration on every issue—especially education. He brings to the table the perspective of someone who has seen the harder side of life, such as what many people in District 26 continue to face.