Steve Diggs is a Knoxville native and graduate of Karns High School. After obtaining a degree in business management from Maryville College in 1988, he came to Emerald Avenue United Methodist Church as part-time youth director, following in his father’s footsteps of church ministry. He immediately sensed that urban ministry was a part of God’s call on his life, and Emerald Youth Foundation was formed in 1991.

Since that time, Steve has served as President and CEO, leading the organization to tremendous growth over the past three decades.

In addition to his studies at Maryville College, Steve completed work at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and is a 1997 graduate of Leadership Knoxville and 2017 graduate of Leadership Tennessee. He has served the community in numerous capacities on various boards and with initiatives such as SCORE Advisory Council, Project GRAD, Tennova Healthcare, and an Advisory Council Member for the Empowerment Zone.

Steve and his wife Sabrina have two children, Adam and Abby.

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