The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) announced that Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor has been named chair of its board of directors, succeeding Antonia Yuille Williams. A longtime FPWA board member, Bishop Taylor assumes the role as the organization expands its work of strengthening the human services sector and advancing structural solutions to eradicate poverty in New York and nationwide.
Bishop Taylor is the co-founder and CEO of Urban Upbound and Senior Pastor of the Center of Hope International in Long Island City, Queens. For more than two decades, he has built partnerships between public housing residents, faith leaders, businesses, government agencies and nonprofits to expand access to employment, financial services, education, housing and economic opportunity.
“Bishop Taylor’s career in the service of others evidences what is achievable when we listen to people, build partnerships and develop solutions rooted in people’s lived experiences,” said Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director of FPWA. “His leadership comes as FPWA works to establish the True Cost of Economic Security as the standard for measuring whether individuals and families have what they need to truly thrive, while confronting the systems that keep millions of people from getting ahead. His vision, faith and experience will help FPWA extend our reach and strengthen our position as a leading national voice for justice.”
Jones Austin also thanked Yuille Williams for her leadership. “Toni has guided FPWA’s board with wisdom, purpose and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that every person has the opportunity to live with dignity and thrive. FPWA is stronger because of her service as chair, and looks forward to her continued service on the board.”
Bishop Taylor assumes the chairmanship during a period of significant growth for FPWA. The organization leads the National True Cost of Living Coalition, which is advancing a more accurate measure of economic well-being than the federal poverty line. Earlier this year, New York City released its first-ever True Cost of Living Measure, based on the groundbreaking framework pioneered by FPWA and the Urban Institute. FPWA continues to pair that work with capacity building support for nonprofits and policy solutions on wages, housing, child care, income supports and wealth-building.
“FPWA was founded by faith communities that understood their responsibility to stand with those who were being left behind,” said Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor. “More than a century later, that calling remains urgent. Families are working hard and still cannot achieve economic security and human services organizations are holding communities together with barely enough resources to scrape by. As Chair, I look forward to working with Jennifer, the board, FPWA’s staff and our member organizations to advance policies that reflect the true cost of living, strengthen the institutions communities depend upon and ensure that every person has the resources, dignity and power to thrive.”
Bishop Taylor co-founded Urban Upbound in 2004 to address systemic barriers facing New York City public housing residents. Under his leadership, the organization developed an integrated model combining workforce development, financial counseling, tax and income-support services, youth programming, housing resources, mental-health services and small-business assistance. Its work also includes the Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union, which connects underbanked communities with accessible financial services and opportunities to build assets.
Founded in 1922 in response to a crisis facing homeless and abandoned children, FPWA has spent more than one hundred years advocating for people and communities excluded from opportunity. Its work has evolved from developing foster homes for Black children and defending equal access to public assistance to advancing civil rights, fair wages, racial justice, stronger human services and more accurate measures of what people need to live securely.
About FPWA
The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) is a leading anti-poverty, social policy and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening human services organizations and faith institutions and advancing economic opportunity and justice for New Yorkers with low incomes. Since 1922, FPWA has driven groundbreaking policy reforms to better serve those in need and dismantle barriers to economic security and well-being.