Loved Bayou Youth Project
By: Evergreen Taylor
Photo By: Will Willoughby
My name is Ever Taylor. I am a 25 year old educator, activist, and creative. I am from the city of Atlanta, GA, but I am currently living in New Orleans, LA. My history in educating, community work, and creativity started very early in my journey. I published my first book Letters from the Underground at the age of 12 years old. From there, I became a peer teaching artist bringing writing as a form of activism to low income students in my hometown, a finalist for the Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate, an internationally ranked poet the Brave New Voices International Poetry slam, and consistent advocate through community service. I continued my work and education by obtaining a BA in Creative Writing with a minor in African American Studies and an emphasis in business from the University of Iowa. During my collegiate career, I tutored athletes on campus to get them academically on track, I cooked and provided care for senior on those in hospice at the Hope Lodge, I helped build homes for families in need through Habitat for Humanity, I organized events for black students on campus as an employee of the African American Cultural center as well as the resident assistant on the Young, Gifted, and Black Living Learning Community. I received the Marie Nesbitt Promise Award for my academic achievement in the African American Studies department as well as the Social Action Award for my work in activism as a student from my organization Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Following my time in college, I came to New Orleans through the Teach for America program. I became a social and emotional learning chair at the schools I worked to enhance learning to fill in the gap of trauma and learning disabilities in students allowing many of my students to reach on grade level and mastery. This afforded them the opportunity to attend private schools on scholarship and be on track for college. I also created a program where I tutored my parents who did not obtain high school diplomas due to displacement during Hurricane Katrina, many of whom were able to receive their GED. For this work, I received the iElevate+TV Literary Artist and Activist Award. I have continued my art by publishing in the anthology The Black Superwoman & Mental Health: Power & Pain, partnering with the Teach for America Coalition to create events for black queer young people in the city of New Orleans, as well as perform my work giving voice to issues plaguing marginalized communities.
