Abel Young was born and raised in Phoenix, where he lives, happily married, and raising two children. He is a Hispanic male with a long-standing interest in working with youth. Prior to starting his career, Abel spent several years working for the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, and during this time, he realized the importance of building a strong foundation for youth in our communities. Specifically, while working in lower-income communities, Abel helped guide many of the recreation center regulars down paths that led to their success by providing them with the information and resources they needed to make more successful decisions.

Abel considers every day a learning experience, and his career path has been rich with opportunities to do just that. Abel brings a wealth of public-sector experience. He has worked for the Department of Economic Security (DES) in various divisions and roles since 2010, with a brief tenure as the Director of Community Services at the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, which is housed at the University of Arizona. Most recently, Abel served as the SNAP Employment and Training Manager in DES’s Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services. Abel has recently started a new role as the Student Services Manager for Rio Salado Community College’s Adult Education Program.

Abel has surrounded himself with experts in many different fields, whose influence encouraged him to become a better advocate for transition-aged youth. He serves as a volunteer Board Member for the Arizona Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Chapter, an organization that promotes Employment First principles, which are the belief that employment should be the first consideration and priority for any person who has a disability.

Abel takes his work very seriously, yet strives to create a balance between work and his personal life. Watching his kids grow up is very rewarding, and being present for them is extremely important to him. Abel’s interest in becoming more involved with Diverse Ability Incorporated, by serving as a Board Member, stems from how inspiring he finds the youth leaders. Every time he has an opportunity to work with one of the youth leaders or to experience them presenting, it reinforces how important the work of Diverse Ability Incorporated is.