Who We Are

What inspired you to establish this new charitable foundation?
Mrs. Barbara Powell, my eighth grade school teacher who selected a southern Historically Black College and University tour as our eighth grade class trip.  It was during this trip that I made the life-altering decision, as a fourteen year old, to attend Morehouse College.  Subsequently, I applied to, got accepted in and graduated from Morehouse College.

There are many others I could name, but perhaps, the most influential is the late Rev. Dr. Johnnie Colemon, the minister of my childhood church.  It was under her direct tutelage, I gained my sense of self confidence, sense of higher purpose, and my greater sense of calling to service.  Dr. Johnnie Colemon exposed me to some of the finest thinkers and shapers of society and taught me principles for living a better life.

We want to return to the neighborhood and establish scholarships and early college exposure programs named for outstanding educators  at George M. Pullman Elementary School.

Along with other community stakeholders, we would like to create The John and Joyce Tayborn Roseland ReImagination Community Center – honoring the life and legacy of my maternal grandparents who were the iconic patriarch and matriarch in the Roseland Community.

Our mission with establishing the John and Joyce Collete Tayborn Reimagine Roseland Community  Center would be to honor the legacy of John and Joyce Tayborn by revitalizing an abandoned  church and transforming into a vibrant community hub that offers educational, cultural, and performing arts programs to empower and uplift the Roseland Community on the South Side of Chicago. I would want it to aim to provide a safe space for community engagement, youth development, and artistic expression, while preserving the rich history and spirit of my family and the neighbors in my community whose daily examples and sacrifice opened the door for young dreamers like me.

What are some of your short-term goals?
In the short term we are laying the groundwork with a few reachable administrative and programmatic goals.  We want to start modestly in our first year by raising an initial endowment for the Foundation and direct funding to be used for some of the following start-up purposes:

1. Creation of a Website: A professionally designed website will serve as the digital home for our foundation, showcasing our mission, initiatives, and the stories of those we serve. It will facilitate engagement and broaden our reach to potential partners and supporters.
2. Establishing our National Headquarters, including securing Equipment, and Supplies: Retaining a physical office and base of operations presence that is vital for our success. Early angel investment will help us cover the expenses for office space, necessary equipment, and for creating a functional hub for collaboration and innovation.
3. Hiring a Part-Time Executive Operational Assistant: To streamline our operations, we will hire an Executive Operational Assistant. This critical role will ensure that our initiatives run smoothly and efficiently, allowing us to focus on our mission-driven work.
4. Covering Expenses for a Grant Writer, Accountant and Legal Fees: To maximize our impact, we must navigate the complexities of grant applications and legal requirements. Your contribution will enable us to engage a skilled grant writer and cover essential legal and accounting fees, positioning us to secure funding for our vital programs.

Can you give us a glimpse into what your Foundation will actually be doing, once you get up and running?

We will get busy creating intergenerational mentoring, travel and service opportunities for the diamonds in the rough who hold the potential to be future leaders and good humans who change our world for the better. 

We are passionate about building cross-cultural bridges through international travel and service opportunities for young leaders. 

We are determined to help close the pipeline to prison among inner-city youth through college travel, immersion and exposure opportunities.

We are excited about opening the imaginal skies of inner-city youth for careers in the arts, by providing travel and mentoring opportunities to Broadway and beyond.

We stand for a world healed of racism, religious violence, terrorism, and discrimination and we are committed to cultivating a cross-cultural, multi-religious cohort of leaders who learn, travel, and serve together to alleviate human suffering on the planet.

The Foundation is also excited about supporting individuals whose projects and initiatives align with our Vision on a case by case basis.