The UST Social Justice Institute is named after Rev. William J. Young (1929-2006), who for more than three decades served tirelessly for the cause of social justice both at the University of St. Thomas and throughout the Houston-Galveston, Texas, region.  In 1985, with the imminent publication of the US Bishop’s Pastoral Letter, Economic Justice for All, 1986, Father Young formed a Commission on Social Concerns in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston.  Over the next decade, this Commission presented over 25 programs on a variety of subjects including homelessness, multiculturalism, women in the Church, and health care.

During 2007 and 2008, the Young Institute, as a collaborative endeavor of UST, the Archdioceses of Galveston-Houston and Catholic Charities of Galveston-Houston, has evolved from the success of its summer conferences into a year-round organization offering forums and community outreach on the basis of Catholic Social Teaching.  The First Friday Forum supports this mission.