Sara I. Taylor is the Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of Positive Steps Consulting, bringing more than 20 years of experience across multiple industries. Her career spans from direct-care frontline social work to senior-level administration. Sara is widely recognized for her expertise in leadership development, organizational capacity building, and managing professional conferences throughout North America. In recent years, she has emerged as a respected voice in advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), consistently reminding leaders that “everyone has a role” in creating meaningful change. A native of western Pennsylvania, Sara’s journey is deeply rooted in resilience and purpose. She became a mother at the age of 16 while navigating life in a household impacted by poverty. These early experiences shaped her lifelong commitment to empowering vulnerable populations, particularly women of color who face systemic barriers to career advancement. Her work reflects both lived experience and professional dedication to equity and opportunity. Sara’s leadership extends beyond her professional roles into community impact. She actively collaborates with boards, policymakers, philanthropists, and stakeholders to improve outcomes for underserved populations and advance racial equity strategies. She is the founder and visionary behind the Upstate New York Women of Color Summit in partnership with Partners in Community Development.(thepicd.org). In 2020, she launched the BIPOC Parent Mental Health Project, amplifying the voices of parents of color navigating complex mental health systems across Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Utica. (www.bipocparentvoice.org). In 2025, Sara was appointed Deputy Executive Director at Partners in Community Development Inc., where she leads mission-driven initiatives focused on economic mobility and mental health equity. Sara holds a Master’s Degree in Human Service Administration from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York, along with multiple certifications in leadership development. She has also completed ministry and theology training, holds ministerial licenses, and has extensive experience in conference and event planning. Her impact has been widely recognized. In 2019, she was honored as an Athena Award Finalist and received the Gloria Avis Legacy Award from the City of Rochester Black Heritage Committee. Since then, she has received more than ten additional awards across Rochester, Buffalo, and New York State. Sara is a proud mother, grandmother, and caregiver. She has one biological son, Darwin Jones, a CPA, and a daughter-in-law, Dr. Shalon, a pharmacist and global research director for a major pharmaceutical company. She is the loving grandmother of Jaxon and Zara. Since 2009, Sara has also raised her great-niece Ariana as her own. She honors the legacy of her late father, John P. Chipembere of Malawi Africa, whose heritage continues to inspire her global perspective and mission-driven work. Sara lives and breathes by Romans 8:28!