Meet Paul
A lifelong Memphian and a Democrat who has spent my career — and now my mayoralty — building a Memphis that works for everyone.
Growing Up in Oakhaven
I grew up in Memphis’s Oakhaven neighborhood, where I learned early on that there were two Memphises — one ripe with opportunity and prosperity, and another lacking resources and safe neighborhoods. That divide stuck with me. It’s the reason I’ve spent my career trying to close the gap between the Memphis some of us got to grow up in, and the Memphis every kid deserves.
Committed to Service
I developed a passion for service through the selfless example of my parents, Bishop William and Pastor Dianne Young. I watched them confront our city’s hardest challenges firsthand through their ministry at Memphis Healing Center Full Gospel Baptist Church. Their courage and willingness to stand in the trenches shaped how I lead today — I try to be a Mayor who is accessible and responsive, who stands in the gap and shoulders the burdens of others.
Why I Ran for Mayor
Determined to bridge Memphis’s divide, I built a career focused on making this city work for every resident — leading the Downtown Memphis Commission and the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development. That work taught me what’s possible when we unify the city through public and private partnerships and targeted investment. I ran for Mayor to take that approach citywide, with a focus on public safety, infrastructure, and the potential of our greatest asset: our people.
As Your Mayor
Since taking office, we’ve made real progress together: violent crime is down to its lowest levels in 25 years, we’ve launched Blight Zero to clean up neighborhoods block by block, and we’re growing MPLOY to give thousands of Memphis youth a paid summer job every year. There’s more to do, and I’m not finished.
A Vision for Memphis
My wife, Dr. Jamila Smith-Young, and I were both born and raised in Memphis, and today we’re proud to raise our two kids here. I’m running for re-election to build a Memphis that every child can one day be proud of and feel welcomed in — a city that invests in the potential of its residents and embraces its rich culture, so we can be a top destination for tourists, growing families, creatives, and aspiring entrepreneurs. We have what it takes to elevate Memphis to the next level — and with four more years, we will.