February 29, 2024

Photo of Talia Young and President Brian W. Penschow, AIA, by and with permission from Jay Mayer

Meet AIA New Jersey Resident of the Year, Talia Young

The American Institute of Architects New Jersey Chapter Resident of the Year Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the architecture profession. New Jersey residents who are not licensed architects are eligible for nomination. Our most recent recipient of this honor is Talia L. Young, President and CEO of Newark Symphony Hall. 

Ms. Young is a businesswoman and career professional with nearly eighteen years of experience in entrepreneurship, economic development, social impact initiatives and federal government policy. 

Young has emerged as a bold and unconventional creative visionary, forging a sustainable future for New Jersey’s largest entertainment and arts institution, Newark Symphony Hall. There have been significant proactive changes since the appointment of Talia Young as President and CEO of Newark Performing Arts Corp (NPAC) by the Board in May of 2023. 

With extensive experience at the crossroads of economic cultivation and creative placemaking, Young’s strategic shrewdness is ripe for the $75 million historic building restoration, organization stabilization, and redevelopment of the Southern Broad Street Arts District. Within 10 months on the job as CEO, Young has already demonstrated her capability by securing an additional $4 million in funding from the state of New Jersey and allocating $1.5 million of a matching grant funded by the New Jersey Historic Trust. This brings the total funds raised for the facility’s restoration project to $16 million. 

As an entrepreneur, Young founded Space 2 Create Social Impact Community Development Corporation  (S2C) in 2020, where it is their mission to open doors to economic equity and sustainability in communities of color. This firm, led by women of color, works to amplify core values of social impact investment through programming, partnerships, and development. Previously, in 2010, Young launched THE 725 STANDARD, a full-service comprehensive planning and logistics company with face-to-face brand marketing event services. 

Notably, Young has served as the Vice President of Public and Government Relations for Jersey City National Bank of NJ – New Jersey’s first black-owned and operated bank. Her career experience also includes serving as the Senior Project and Policy Manager position under the late U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg. In her role, Young oversaw a policy portfolio that covered economic development, education, banking, faith-based initiatives and urban communities. 

Talia was presented with her award by Service Awards Chair Jessica O’Donnell, AIA, and AIA NJ President Brian W. Penschow, AIA. The ceremony was held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at the AIA New Jersey Board Installation and Awards Dinner at the Clarks Landing Yacht Club in Point Pleasant, NJ. We are delighted to celebrate Ms. Young’s Achievements and contributions to the built environment and historic preservation of a NJ landmark. 

By Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, AIA NJ Advocacy Consultant | Posted in Architecture in NJ, Diversity, Environment, EquityInArchitecture, Historic Resources, Service Awards, Women in Architecture | Tagged: #JessicaODonnellAIA, #newarksymphonyhall, #ResidentOfTheYear, #ServiceAward, #taliayoung, BrianWPenschowAIA | Comments (0)