Naya Young

Biography

Naya Young was raised in Tampa, attended Brandon High School and graduated from George S. Middleton High School. She received a Master of Arts and Science degree in Political Science from Howard University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Culture and Media Communication from the University of South Florida and an Associate’s Degree from Hillsborough Community College. Naya also obtained a Nonprofit Management Certification from the University of Tampa and is a graduate of the TOBA Leadership Institute.

Prior to her election, Naya has worked in the community and nonprofit sector in a variety of ways; connecting the city’s walkable green spaces into what is now Tampa’s Green ARTery, advocating for diabetes awareness alongside her family to pass the Arthur Green Jr. Act, WTMP as a programmer for Saturday morning community talk shows and WMNF as an on-air personality. She has also worked with the Washington Bureau National Urban League, National Coalition on Civic Participation and the Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center. She is the previous Executive Director of the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association and has worked in communities across Tampa and Hillsborough County on community engagement initiatives for city and county projects.

In October 2025, Naya was elected to Tampa City Council, representing District 5, where she serves on the Public Safety Coordinating Council, chairs the Neighborhood and Community Affairs Committee and serves on the board for the Tampa Bay Estuary Program.