The City of Lake Charles, Louisiana

Matt Young has called Lake Charles home since 2009, and his passion for the community only continues to grow. As the Public Relations Director at Visit Lake Charles, Matt has dedicated his career to showcasing Southwest Louisiana’s culture, food, and outdoor adventures to domestic and international media. Before that, he served the City of Lake Charles under two mayoral administrations as a Public Information Officer and Armed Forces Commission Liaison before being promoted to Director of Cultural Affairs. He led efforts to rebuild Historic City Hall and Central School after the devastating storms of 2020.

Matt has been deeply involved in the community, serving on the SWLA Alliance's board of directors as the first Quality of Life chairperson. He served as the lead for Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s Long-Term Recovery Plan for Cultural and Natural Resources. As a member of the Downtown Development Authority, he championed downtown business growth.

From creating local events like “Live at the Lakefront” and the “Living History Cemetery Tour” to building new community assets like the downtown dog park, his focus has always been on bringing people together. Named Humanitarian of the Year in 2019 by Family and Youth Counseling Agency, he has a deep-rooted commitment to creating a stronger Lake Charles.

Matt is married to Wayne Smith, a Lake Charles native and passionate educator, and they have been residents of District D since 2011.