Sarah Taylor
Age: 36
Title: Founder-Executive Director
Name of Organization: Yo Soy Ella
Sarah Taylor in 2012 launched her first non-profit venture, Yo Soy Ella, Inc. which translates to “I Am Her” – “We are whoever we wish to be, wherever our dreams take us; we let our dreams become us!” YSE serves as a support system, to empower and mentor the Latina woman’s mental and emotional needs. As a daughter of immigrants, Taylor witnessed her family’s urgency to seek opportunities to move the family forward.
Alongside her social impact endeavors, Taylor is currently contracted through the Office of Refugee Resettlement, as a case coordinator for General Dynamics Information Technology, (GDIT) in direct services for unaccompanied minors who migrate to the U.S.
She has served as a Child Protection Investigator for the State of Illinois, therapist for adopted minors within Illinois’s child welfare system, co-facilitator for sex-offender support groups, and in previous years of service Taylor has worked for the Illinois Department of Human Services, providing public assistance and crisis intervention for Latino families.
As a wife and mother, Taylor balances her spare time with family while volunteering at various organizations throughout Chicago. As a certified Domestic Violence Awareness interventionist, she provides domestic violence education to small groups and served as a crisis-hotline volunteer for Mujeres Latinas En Acción, a domestic violence agency. She also volunteers as a therapist at Healthy Hood Chicago, for their Get Your Mind Right mental health initiative. Additionally, Taylor is an active member of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority and the Chicago Metropolitan Alumni Association and is an auxiliary board member for HACE, Young Professional Board, Chicago.
“I’ve acknowledged my experiences have placed a responsibility for me to advocate and empower the community with best strategies to live out their worst days. I call it a survivor’s mandate. Your story is a healing agent.” -Sarah Taylor
