Presenter
Presented by Ms. Carlisle
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Whereas, We come today, December 5, 2003 to celebrate the life of Mrs. Meredith Watson Young (affectionately known as "Gay") born on June 24, 1949 in San Diego, California and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by the Honorable J. Warren Watson and the Late Roberta North Watson, educated in the Pittsburgh Public Schools and the Carnegie Museum of Fine Arts; and
Whereas, Mrs. Young married The Honorable Wilbert Young in August of 1983 and together raised five wonderful children, Anthony Warren Stewart, Adam Watson, Joseph Landry, John James and Whitney North; and
Whereas, Mrs. Young was an accomplished painter and developed expertise in other media, including collage, paper cutting and photography which were widely collected and exhibited. She directed the area's first Art mobile, setting up creative workshops throughout Allegheny County. Mrs. Young's art work has been commissioned by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the NAACP and the Urban League of Pittsburgh. In the summer of 2003, people from all over the United States were able to appreciate Mrs. Young's artistic ability as they were greeted by the "Urban Leagueasaurus" that she designed for the National Urban League Convention. The dinosaur was proudly displayed at the foot of the elevators in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center; and
Whereas, Mrs. Young was also an educator who spent more than a decade influencing hundreds of children as an art teacher at Holy Rosary School in Homewood. Mrs. Young often took children on field trips to introduce them to all forms of creative expression. She was known to bring in artists from all over the world to talk and work with her students. Mrs. Young was also an actress and an art performer who worked with the Imaginarium, a Pittsburgh based children's theatrical art company; and
Whereas, Mrs. Young was also a collector of folk art and "black Americana". As a collector, she often coupled her collectibles with her own art work for show and lectured, upon request, about her collection. Mrs. Young was a member of Women of Visions, the Journey Women and the National Council of artists, and International Network Group of African American and other Third World Artists. She was also an active member of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., the Pittsburgh alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Pioneers, Inc., the Black Photographers Group and St. Benedict the Moor Church. Mrs. Young also served as a committee woman and Vice Chair of the Democratic Committee in the Borough of Wilkinsburg.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and commend Mrs. Meredith Watson Young for her efforts to share her life and talents to educate and enlighten the residents of Pittsburgh. Mrs. Young was more than an artist, she was a humanitarian and leader who taught by example.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does declare Friday, December 5, 2003 a day of celebration for the life and leadership of Mrs. Meredith Watson Young.
SPONSORED BY COUNCILWOMAN TWANDA CARLISLE