Building Bridges of Hope

Sammie L. Young, Jr. retired after 30 years of distinguished service with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, culminating in his role as Superintendent at the Cook County Jail. He is now the CEO of Positive Move, Inc., bringing more than 40 years of experience in public safety, violence prevention, and community leadership.

Throughout his extensive career, Mr. Young has served in impactful leadership roles including Director of Public Safety, Police Commander, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Director of Community Policing. His long tenure with the Cook County Sheriff’s Department included critical leadership in gang intelligence, support services, and community safety initiatives.

Mr. Young’s background also includes significant roles in school and campus security, enhancing his ability to engage youth and help build safer, more supportive learning environments. He holds extensive specialized training in gang crime investigation, homicide investigation, street crime surveillance, terrorism response, and city administration leadership.

Since 2020, Mr. Young has led Positive Move, Inc. with a strong mission to reduce violence, support families, and create pathways to empowerment. In addition to this work, Mr. Young has focused substantial attention on mentoring youth in elementary and high schools—providing tutoring, guidance, and training workshops that have since been removed these teaching skills from the curricula. His lifelong dedication to community service continues to shape programs that inspire positive change across the region.