HIU Welcomes Ambassador Andrew Young '55 for Fundraising Dinner

Ambassador Andrew J. Young, a 1955 graduate of then-Hartford Seminary, graced HIU with his presence on Sept. 7 to help raise funds for a building to be named in his honor. Once renovated, the Ambassador Andrew J. Young Building will house the Howard Thurman Center for Justice and Transformational Ministry (HTC).

At 92, Ambassador Young is a marvel. He remembers well the impact that studying in Hartford had on the rest of his storied career, which included serving in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s inner circle, two terms as a U.S. Congressman from Georgia, two terms as Mayor of Atlanta, and a stint as Jimmy Carter's Ambassador to the United Nations. He was also instrumental in bringing the Olympics to Atlanta in 1996.

Robert Patricelli, a prominent businessman and philanthropist who lives in Simsbury, CT, chaired the fundraising dinner, which honored Ambassador Young and other donors who have contributed to the renovation of what will become the Ambassador Andrew J. Young Building at 125 Sherman St. For many years, the stately brick building housed the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ. HIU purchased the building in 2023 and has been working with an architect to design a new interior that will include a resource center for pastors, exhibition space, offices for the Howard Thurman Center staff, classrooms for the Black Ministries Program, and a gathering place for HIU students.

"I really jumped at the opportunity, even though I had no previous connection with the university, to help host this event and to try to raise money for HIU," Patricelli said. He enumerated three reasons: first, to honor and celebrate Andrew Young and the lessons he shares on non-violence and community building; second, to tap into Andrew Young's expertise in developing the city of Atlanta and to share that with Hartford; and third, to give back to HIU, a place that is "practicing what it preaches and needs our support."

A catered dinner began with words from President Joel N. Lohr, who thanked the donors and welcomed Ambassador Young.

"It's really nice to be able to say, with all sincerity, that getting to know Andrew Young has been one of the greatest gifts of my life," he said.

Those in attendance watched a video that described how the Ambassador Andrew J. Young Building will bring together the legacies of Young, King, and philosopher and theologian Howard Thurman.

After dinner, President Lohr and Ambassador Young had a conversation that ranged from Ambassador Young's work in the civil rights movement to his relentless daily schedule to his thoughts and ideas about current world events. Ambassador Young stressed how many parts of his life, from his work at the United Nations to the transformation of Atlanta into an international destination, could be traced to the experiences he had and the connections he made at Hartford Seminary.

Ambassador Young spoke of how his father wanted him to be a dentist. Instead, he was drawn to work for the Council of Churches and was assigned to Hartford, where he was housed at Hartford Seminary. He walked into the administration building to ask if he could sit in on a course and was offered a full scholarship if he agreed to take three classes. He studied in Hartford for four years, between the ages of 19 and 23.

"There were not many black folk on the campus, but there were people from everywhere else," he said. "This is where I got my grounding that prepared me for the U.N."

Ambassador Young said he had four jobs while taking classes, among those washing dishes and firing the furnace in a nearby high-rise. He also spoke about the strong Quaker influence on campus and how he had "my first lessons in non-violence here."

"All of it was seeds planted here, so I feel greatly indebted to this place, and I never paid a penny," he said. "When I found out they wanted to put my name on something, I said, 'Well, I owe something to this place.' In fact, I owe everything."

Mayor of Hartford Arunan Arulampalam presented Ambassador Young with a proclamation and spoke about the value of his continued connection to Hartford.

"You are a living piece of our history, and it's such an honor to have you back here in the city that loves you so much," the mayor said. "I love that you are still dreaming of a country that is united in the near future."

The evening ended with a rousing benediction from Bishop Dr. Benjamin K. Watts, an HIU faculty member, Executive Minister of the Howard Thurman Center, and Director of the Black Ministries Program.

He spoke about how the Black Ministries Program, which was founded in 1982, might have ceased to exist were it not for the support of President Joel N. Lohr and that of donors such as former HIU Board Chair Sanford Cloud, who was present and has also contributed to the Ambassador Andrew J. Young building fund. 

"By every conceivable thought, our doors, our dreams, our hopes for students who did not have opportunities should have been cut off," Bishop Dr. Watts said. "Instead, not only are we growing, we are thriving."

Enthusiasm was so high for the project and for Ambassador Young that plans are underway for a possible return to Hartford next spring.

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