Arlene L. Youngblood

Arlene L. Youngblood is an Austin resident, born in Lancashire, England – Burtonwood AFB, and grew up in East Austin at 1306 Cotton Street. She is the eldest of four siblings (Alvin, Jr. Stella Marks, Steven, Sr. - deceased). She attended Ebenezer Nursery School (now Ebenezer Child Development Center), Blackshear Elementary School (1963 - 1968) under the leadership of Principal Friendly. R. Rice, and is a graduate of A. N. McCallum High School. She received her Bachelor of Journalism degree from The University at Texas at Austin and a Master of Public Administration from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University).  

Ms. Youngblood is a state government retiree and the owner of Consultant Services, a career development company.  In addition, she has worked as a Continuing Education Instructor for Austin Community College and is Youth Brigade Coordinator for The Villager Newspaper.  She is a local East Austin historian, an advocate for East Austin pools, and an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church. 

Her consultant work includes serving as a focus group facilitator (community engagement) on affordable housing for the City of Austin – Neighborhood Housing and Community Affairs Department (June  – July 2016) and as the Blackshear Reunion Project coordinator for Blackshear Bridge, a non- profit organization (November 2018 – April 2019).  The Reunion project involved coordinating the Blackshear Elementary School Reunion, the Friendly R. Rice Birthday celebration and the writing of the narrative for the Blackshear Elementary School exhibit which was displayed at Carver Museum and Cultural Center.  She also served as a health alliance liaison for the African American Alliance for Health in Central Texas (AAAHCT) from 2013 – 2015. 

Her other civic/community work consist of serving as "The East Austin Administrator," a community publicist who gets the word out on events and important meetings in East Austin and the Greater Austin community.  She has served on the Aquatics Master Plan Advisory Board advocating for East Austin pools, advisory board member for Forklift Danceworks - promoting East Austin pools (2017 – 2019), and as volunteer and advisory board member for the Montopolis Friendship Community Center.  She served as coordinator for the 60-Year Anniversary of the center (October 2017).  She has spoken at City Council meetings regarding East Austin pool improvements and housing codes.  She is a member of National Women of Achievement, Inc. – Austin Metroplex Chapter. 

Her role models and mentors for the love of history include:  Mrs. Ada DeBlanc Simond,  Ms. Ina Ray Smith, Mr. J. Mason Brewer,  Mrs. Fannie Murphy Lawless, Dr. Juliet E. K. Walker, Mrs. Janie Perry Harrison, Mrs. Bettye Redd Washington, retired professor Vonnye Rice Gardner, and her father Alvin L. Youngblood, Sr.