Community Partnerships

Taylor is committed to building an ecosystem of partnerships that includes mutually beneficial learning opportunities and centers authentic, ongoing relationships. Partnerships take different forms depending on the needs, capacity, and assets of the partner organization and Taylor team members. Taylor currently offers the following activities to meet our partnership goals.

• The Taylor Sponsorship Award support programs, initiatives, and movements on and off campus that align with the center’s mission of cultivating and connecting changemakers, people committed to addressing social and environmental problems. Anyone with an activity related to positive social change is encouraged to apply for Taylor’s financial or in-kind support.
• The Community Innovators’ Circle is a multi-year financial engagement with a small cohort of innovative community organizations who commit to sharing their expertise with Tulane students, staff, and faculty through experiential learning opportunities and research and scholarship activities. Our current cohort includes unCommon Construction, Grow Dat Youth Farm, and A’s and Aces. This multi-year, long term engagement is by invitation only.
• The Community Changemaker Fund is a one-year fund (2022) created from our desire to support community changemakers who have responded to ongoing challenges in their neighborhoods and communities. Through this award, the Taylor Center hopes to center and support black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) New Orleans residents who are deeply rooted in and committed to their community.
• Multi-year partnerships could involve the previously mentioned activities as well as participatory research, project design, and co-hosting visiting scholars. These partnerships have the potential to become a part of the Community Innovators’ Circle, a cohort of partners using innovative and human-centered approaches to deepen their social impact. These organizations commit to long- term partnerships involving multiple aspects of the Taylor Center’s work with annual financial commitments. 
• Space Reservations: Do you need space for your next meeting or project? If you’re interested in reserving our Taylor Warehouse space, located in the warehouse and arts district of New Orleans, contact us at taylor@tulane.edu. Priority will be given to organizations and groups whose mission and activities align with the center’s mission of cultivating and connecting changemakers, people committed to addressing social and environmental problems.

The Taylor Center is a network of Tulane University faculty, undergraduate students, professional graduate students, and alumni from across campus working to advance social and environmental change. If you are interested in connecting with us attend our free workshops and speaker events, sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on social media. If you have any questions or ideas for partnerships, please email us at taylor@tulane.edu. 

Q: What are the benefits of a Taylor Partnership?

A: Taylor partners can advertise events and opportunities through the weekly newsletter, gain access to Tulane students and the Taylor network, receive feedback on programs, and learn new skills such as human-centered design.

Q: Do we have to be based in New Orleans?

A: No. While many of partners are New Orleans based non-profits and social enterprises, it is not a requirement. Faculty and students collaborate with organizations around the world. Typically, partner organizations have a clear social mission, an interest in social innovation approaches, and a strategic fit with Taylor’s current needs.

Q: How can I get involved with Taylor?

A: Visit the Taylor website, sign up for the newsletter, and connect on social media; 

     Attend a Taylor event—a public speaker, brown bag lunch, classroom visit, open-house, design thinking public crash course, etc.; 

     Reach out directly to faculty and staff to explore possible synergistic interests 

Q: How does a Taylor partnership differ from a partnership with the Tulane Center for Public Service (CPS)?

A: CPS partners are organizations that host Tulane students for credit-bearing service-learning experiences and internships. Organizations that want to host service-learning classes or unpaid Taylor interns are required to register as a CPS partner and Taylor encourages most partners to register with CPS if they are eligible. Organizations can be both a Taylor Center and CPS partner.

• Interested in learning more about our community partnerships?
• Email the Taylor Center at taylor@tulane.edu.