Roy Paul

 

 

 

Travels From: NY

Fee Range: $1,500 - $2,500

A refreshingly young voice is how many people describe political commentator, speaker, and analyst, Roy Paul. An expert on youth education, social and economic justice, and the advancement of African Americans in modern pop culture and politics, he is emerging as one of the most knowledgeable youth commentators of our time. In 2006, at age 19, Paul proved his nay-sayers wrong as he was elected to the school board in Middletown, NY, making him the youngest African-American elected to a school board in the state.

 

Paul developed an interest in politics at 16, when he and his peers were faced with flawed Regents’ exams. He assembled over 200 signed petitions and sent them to Albany to demand a change in the system. Shortly after that, he landed a highly coveted internship with Congressman Maurice Hinchey, where he learned constituent matters and local level politics. During that time, Paul also partnered with his local education network to host a television program “Up Close and Personal” where he interviewed local prominent officials on a variety of issues.

 

At 18, Paul was elected to the Board of Directors for the Regional Economic Community Action Program – an organization committed to changing the lives of local residents in Western Orange County, through programs such as Head Start, Supportive Housing, and Employment and Training. In the same year, when he learned that the local chapter of the NAACP had no longer existed, he organized a community effort to resurrect the group. In doing so, he became the youngest person to resurrect a chapter of the NAACP.

 

Roy continues to advocate for the less fortunate. He has sponsored legislation that have had profound impacts on the school district including: 1) a resolution creating an affirmative action officer in an effort to increase teaching staff diversity; 2) a resolution lowering the length for board members from 5 to 3 years; and 3) the creation of a bilingual voting ballot in Spanish to accommodate the many native Spanish speakers in the community. In 2008, Paul rechartered The Orange County Young Democrats, an organization that exists “to provide young people with experience working on campaigns, grassroots organizing, and support members who wish to pursue elected office.”

 

Paul has inspired hundreds of young people and adults through his dedication to the community. He visits schools in the greater New York area to stress the importance of higher education and encourage young people to get involved in the community. Paul also spends his free time volunteering at local organizations like Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, and Neighborhood City-Wide Watch.

 

A native New Yorker, Paul will graduate with a B.A. in political science from Queens College in New York this May. Paul has been featured in the local media such as the Hudson Valley Press and the Times Herald Record.Brenda J. Hall from Scholarships and College Planning Inc., says “Roy Paul is a dedicated leader who is committed to the causes that bring about change and unity - that is his passion.”