Ray Young, Jr. was born in Waco, Texas and is the oldest of his siblings. Ray has faced various adversities and life situations that many youth can relate to. He comes from a single-parent home, his father was and still is incarcerated, he was homeless, associated with street life, etc. These life situations lead him into depression, low self-esteem, hopelessness, dropping out of school in the 10th grade and landed him in the juvenile justice system twice. Ray lived in the inner-city where he saw no hope or opportunity around him to excel in life. Ray attended a total of 11 different colleges with no guidance or financial support, which left him frustrated. This is just a snipet of his story and the challenges he has overcome.

In 2008, Ray left Texas for San Diego, CA and begun a journey of growth and perseverance. In 2010, he made many sacrifices in order to work full-time and attend college as a full-time student. Through his struggles and perseverance, Ray obtained his Bachelors of Science in Human Services, with a minor Community and Youth Development in 2011. A month after receiving his Bachelor’s degree, he went on to get his Master's Degree in Educational Counseling & Guidance and complete his program within 11 months. In 2019, Ray graduated from Virginia Union University with a Masters in Divinity. Ray plans to continue on his path of great scholastic achievement and obtain a Doctorate degree.

Ray's passion for youth/people is to educate, create, uplift and empower them using innovative methods. He continues to sacrifice his time to reach out to youth/people wherever they may be. The light and passion in his heart is evident in the work he does to enhance the lives of others. Ray believes ALL YOUTH/PEOPLE are BRILLIANT!!!