Joe Young’s Story
Joe Young is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker and award-winning cartoonist, producer, writer, and teaching artist with over 35 years of experience. He holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Goodwin University and has built a career at the intersection of storytelling, education, and community impact.
As President of Joe Young Entertainment, LLC, Young develops and produces original content for television and streaming platforms. His credits include writing and executive producing Diamond Ruff, Hartford’s first major book-to-film project, with additional work appearing on Amazon Prime, Tubi, and other outlets. He has also contributed to feature films including The Featherweight (executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions) and Midas, which reached #1 on Starz.
He is the Co-Founder and President of Hartford’s Got Talent, a nonprofit platform that showcases emerging talent and connects communities within Greater Hartford County.
He is also the creator of the KEMET comic property—now spanning nine comic books and a graphic novel—with a readership reaching millions through Black newspapers nationwide. His work has expanded into television with special airings on major affiliates across the country. His PSA, Kemet: One Nation, Many Journeys, has been distributed nationally and has earned multiple national awards.
He also leads Can Do, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization who mission to provide arts and entrepreneurial training to disadvantaged youth thtough summer and afterschool programming.
A Guinness World Record holder for creating the world’s longest comic strip, Young’s career spans comics, film, television, and music. His contributions have been recognized with a statewide proclamation from CT Governor Ned Lamont, naming June 19, 2024, “Joe Young Day,” as well as the White House Daily Point of Light Award for his work with youth.
Young serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees at the University of Bridgeport and sits on the board of the Connecticut Film and TV Alliance, an Ambassador at the Bushnell Theater among other leadership roles in the arts and education sectors.
His work has been featured in the Associated Press, Google News, The New York Times, People, Ebony, GQ, and Jet, and he has been featured in an edition of Ripley’s Believe It or Not. He has also appeared on C-SPAN, and other national platforms.
A bestselling author and recognized cultural leader, Joe Young continues to expand his impact across media, education, and community development. www.joeyoung.org, www.kemetcomic.com
2020 COMMITEE/BOARD WORK
Chair of the City Hartford Film and Media Commission
Board Member – Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Foundation
The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving – Artist of Color Advisory Board
Board of Trustees – The University of Bridgeport
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS/RECOGNITION
• Vision Award in Arts and Education – Charter Oak Cultural Center (2019)
• Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition – US Ambassador of Bully Awareness
(John Larson, Member of Congress (2015)
• The Dr. Ivor Echols Community Service Award – The Greater Hartford Alliance of
Black
Social Workers (2015)
• 100 Men of Color Award (2015)
• NAACP 100 Most Influential Blacks in CT (2013)
• Amazon National Bestselling Author, Diamond Ruff (2010)
• State of Connecticut General Assembly Official Citation – Community Leader (2009)
• Big Time Saver – National Public Service Award – National Newspaper and Education
Award (2005)
• Longest Comic Strip in the World – Guinness Book of World Records (1999)
• Daily Point of Light Award – White House (1998)
• Olympic Torchbearer – (1996)
• Joe Young Day – City of Hartford (1994)
• Making A Difference – An Anti-drug, Violence and Aids Awareness Campaign (1991)
• Man of the Year Award – Howard Business Focus Newspaper (1991)
• Outstanding Community Service Award – Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (1991)
The World’s Greatest
Cartoon Workshop
Mailing Address
Joe Young, President
Joe Young Entertainment
P.O. Box 777
Hartford, CT 06142-777
Call Us
(860) 995-0344
Email Us
joeyoungstudios7@gmail.com