Proud South Carolinian. Nonprofit leader. Entrepreneur. Dedicated mentor. Impassioned husband. Devoted father. Hopeful and concerned citizen. Believer that a better world is possible.
Proud South Carolinian. Nonprofit leader. Entrepreneur. Dedicated mentor. Impassioned husband. Devoted father. Hopeful and concerned citizen. Believer that a better world is possible.
Taylor grew up in a middle-class family with hard-working parents, a public education, and a community that believed in his ability to make a difference. He has dedicated himself to helping children and adults lead lives of courage and integrity. He's had years of experience practicing what it means to be a good servant leader: listening deeply; collaborating across lines of difference; and reminding people that we’re all in this together. He's running because we need new courageous leadership, fresh ideas, and a representative that puts people first in Columbia, and he knows we have what it takes to create the thriving communities we deserve.
Taylor grew up in a small town called Bay Minette, near the coast of southern Alabama. His parents worked hard to support our family, and instilled in me the values of perseverance, humility, and respect for others. His grandmothers have given him shining examples of what it looks like to navigate challenging times with resilience, service, and faith.
A village of teachers, coaches, church members, neighbors, and friends helped foster his early understanding of what it meant to be part of a community and how to stand up for what he believes in. He considers himself one of the lucky children in this world who had the kind of support from those around him that made him believe he had the power to make a difference — to believe in what’s possible.
Taylor went to the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated with an economics degree and gained tons of experience running a nonprofit media organization. After graduating from college, Taylor spent a number of years helping build conferences at Forbes Media, worked with startup founders to help market their companies, and worked as a strategist at a local creative agency, Brains on Fire, helping build community-centered brands and organizations.
Today, Taylor is a nonprofit leader, an entrepreneur, and a dedicated mentor. He works at the Center for Courage & Renewal helping equip educators, healthcare workers, spiritual leaders, nonprofit directors, organizers and activists with the resources they need to nurture their own integrity and cultivate trustworthy communities. He has also touched the lives of more than 5,000 boys through Brother Box, the nonprofit he founded in 2018 to inspire boys who look like him to chase their dreams, further their education, and lead authentic lives.
He also serves on the leadership board of Closing the Gap SC, a movement of community members helping to close the education gap by providing scholarships and support to students in the Upstate pursuing their college degree.
Taylor’s most important roles are passionate husband and devoted father. After he and his wife, Nenna, got married they chose to move to the Upstate and start a family.
Taylor and Nenna are wine enthusiasts who love visiting new vineyards and learning new things about winemaking. They enjoy traveling to new and familiar destinations, soaking up different cultures and expanding their horizons. And their happy place as a family includes any of South Carolina’s beautiful beaches, soaking up the sun and getting lost in the sound of the waves.
"In everything I do, I make a concerted effort to inspire people to bet on themselves and their own power, lean on community, and show up for one another with hope, grace, and love. I believe deeply that a better world is possible, and I know that together, we can build a happier, healthier, safer South Carolina for all."
Bringing our vision to life is possible, but only if we're willing to consistently put in the work. The people who hold the power are banking on our apathy and cynicism to maintain the status quo, but together we have the power to chart a different course.
At a time when civic engagement continues to decline and we often treat our politics as a spectator sport, we have to remember that every vote we cast, every voice we raise, and every moment we advocate for change are bold actions that make a real difference and tip the scales towards a better South Carolina for everyone.
