Courtney B. Taylor is a proud Californian from Rialto (Go IE!) and believes deeply in the power of public service and in public policy to improve outcomes for everyone. As a young participant in the Department of Education’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), which aims to increase low-income students’ attendance and graduation from college, she gained a deep insight into and respect for government’s ability to bring about meaningful change and advance outcomes for the people it serves. Experiencing first-hand the social and economic barriers that exist for black and brown communities, Courtney is committed to breaking down barriers in the pursuit of equity.

Prior to pursuing her master’s in public policy, Courtney worked in government and at various nonprofits focused on civil rights, educational equity, and criminal justice reform. At the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Courtney wrote speeches, talking points, and press statements on a range of civil rights issues under Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, Title II of the Americans with the Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Data Collection. While at OCR, Courtney developed a passion for operations and management, recognizing that “good” policies are nothing without a solid implementation structure in place. Following this path, Courtney pursued a role at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), where she served the department by helping to improve agency-wide operational processes, maintain its internal systems, and connect operational excellence with advancing HUD’s mission.

After the 2016 election, Courtney was called to fight the good fight at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF). At LDF, Courtney served on the policy and advocacy team where she researched federal, state, and local legislation to advance LDF’s criminal justice, education, and voting rights advocacy capabilities. She is most proud of her time working with North Charleston residents on policing reform, where she led a research project on the North Charleston Police Department (NCPD). To advance reforms, she analyzed data for police misconduct complaints filed by residents against NCPD and co-authored a policy brief examining the adequacy of NCPD’s complaint resolution process.

Courtney is honored to be working in the Mayor’s Office of Budget and Innovation as a 2020-2021 Bohnett Fellow. 2020 is a pivotal moment for Los Angeles and her people, and Courtney is excited to contribute to reimagining a Los Angeles that serves all.