Susan L. Taylor is a best-selling author, editor, and activist. She is also a fourth-generation entrepreneur who grew up in Harlem working in her father’s clothing store. At 24, she founded her own cosmetics company, which led to the beauty editor’s position at Essence magazine, the publication she would go on to shape into a world-renowned brand with more than 8 million readers.
In 2005 she founded the National CARES Mentoring Movement as Essence CARES. With local affiliates in 58 cities, National CARES has recruited, trained, and deployed more than 150,000 mentors. National CARES is the only organization dedicated to providing mentoring, healing, and wellness services on a national scale for Black children.
She is a recipient of more than a dozen honorary doctorates and hundreds of awards, including the Congressional Black Caucus’ Phoenix Award. A lifelong activist, Ms. Taylor says that securing our vulnerable children is her highest calling.
