Educator, Writer Michelle Taylor to Speak About Building Community on Feb. 12 at UCM

Michelle Taylor, Ph.D., an educator, writer, public speaker, community activist and social worker, will speak about building community at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the University of Central Missouri (UCM).

Doors will open for the “Harnessing the Power of Community” program at 6:30 p.m. in Nahm Auditorium in the W.C. Morris Science Building on campus. 

One of the biggest lessons Taylor learned as a social worker is that nothing changes when people fight; positive changes only occur when we all work together. Taylor will share practical tips on how to build a sense of community and belonging with others and explain why it matters so much.

Taylor’s visit, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity, the Office of Student Experience and Engagement and the Office of the Provost. It is part of the Distinguished Speaker Series at UCM, which was started in 2022 to bring new perspectives on a broad range of topics and issues to the campus and Warrensburg communities.

Twice named one of the 100 most influential people in Philadelphia and named one of the top 50 feminists in the world, Taylor is passionate about education, advocacy and social justice.

Taylor has a Ph.D. in Africology and African American Studies from Temple University, an  M.S.W. in Organizational Leadership and Management from CUNY-Hunter College, and a B.A. in African American Studies and Sociology of Deviance and Law from the University of Pennsylvania. She is certified in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies, Executive Leadership in Social Impact Strategy, and Online Teaching.

Known on social media as Feminista Jones, she operates her own subscription-based platform and contributes to various publications as a freelancer and commissioned writer. Since 2013, Taylor has presented and lectured at colleges, universities and major conferences across the country.

In 2019, Taylor joined two of her closest friends to create “Black Girl Missing,” a true-crime podcast that focuses on the stories of missing African American girls in the United States. They have collaborated with Lifetime Network to raise awareness about missing Black women and girls.

In 2020, Taylor founded Sankofa Summer School. This annual academy offers a series of classes and workshops designed to educate people about the lives and work of Africana people throughout history. Instructors are scholars, activists and community leaders, and students are from all over the world.

Through her many personal and professional endeavors, Taylor is on a mission to promote educational accessibility, empower marginalized populations and advocate for social justice and equality on a global scale.

For more information, contact UCM Student Experience and Engagement at experience@ucmo.edu.