Calvin J.D. Taylor (he/him) is an organizational strategist and cultural leader who brings over a decade of experience managing mission-driven teams, building operational infrastructure, supporting leaders, artists, and executives, and designing initiatives bridging mission and culture. Calvin previously led the national expansion of Pride in the Pews alongside its founder and CEO, growing it from a seed grant to a multi-program national organization, and earlier in his career helped build the award-winning organization Fearless Dialogues to cultivate courageous conversations across lines of difference. Grounded in the liberation tradition of The Black Church and Black spirituality, he approaches systems change on both a macro and micro level, helping institutions align their structures with their values and build the internal capacity needed to sustain meaningful cultural and systemic change.
He is also the founder of The J.D. Group, a strategy and creative consultancy that partners with nonprofits, cultural institutions, and business enterprises to translate bold vision into aligned execution. Through The J.D. Group, Calvin has worked with teams across sectors to build the future — designing cultural campaigns, sharpening strategy, and guiding organizations through moments of growth, transition, and redefinition. He brings that experience and strategic mindset to his role at TWWAP, alongside a deep belief that big ideas deserve bold execution. His career spans nonprofits and for-profit organizations, higher education, and the arts, with a consistent focus on advancing equity, shifting narratives, and building sustainable paths for justice. Calvin holds a Master of Divinity from Emory University and a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Trinity International University.
Calvin is a Chicago native and resident, and enjoys art, travel, sports, family, and culinary experiences.
Calvin shares, “I joined The Who We Are Project because systems don’t change by accident, they change through bold vision and courageous execution. I am inspired by TWWAP's mission to ‘tell the truth’ and cultivate citizen historians, and I’m honored to help steward its next chapter with a deep commitment to systems change, from the inside out.”
###