About Ayana
Ayana Taylor is a mother, community leader, business professional and a champion for equity.
Ayana is a 2004 graduate of Central Connecticut State University where she received her Bachelors in English with a minor of Sociology and in 2021, she received her Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University. Ayana works in Human Resources as the Diversity Partnerships Manager for a national insurance firm and is also a licensed Realtor.
Ayana is an active member of her community where she donates her time to causes that she is passionate about. Ayana serves on the Town of Windsor’s Board of Education. She was appointed to a vacant position in 2018, and then reelected in 2019, 2021 and 2023. She held the positions of Secretary and Curriculum Committee Chair since 2019. Currently, she is Vice President of the BOE in recognition of getting the 2nd highest number of votes of 10 candidates for BOE. She sits on the Board of Directors for All of Us United, Inc., and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Ayana is a lifelong member of Metropolitan AME Zion Church in Hartford. In recent years, Ayana served as the Young Adult Christian Ministry Secretary from 2014 to 2023 and currently as Youth Director.
Ayana’s focus is equity for all people. Creating access and opportunities in education, the workforce and housing is her specialty. She continues to advocate and be a vocal ally for marginalized populations, especially children with different abilities and people of color. Over the years, she has sat on panels, moderated discussions and organized events with that in mind. Ayana has received many accolades for her work in these areas such as, The Woman Within You Community Service Award, Community Leader Award, Town of Windsor Human Relations Commission Bridge Builder Award and she is a 2019 100 Women of Color Award recipient. Ayana has always believed in the power of people working together. While employed with Connecticut's Department of Social Services, Ayana became an active member of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and was elected to be an AFSCME Union Steward.
Throughout her life, her faith has led Ayana to become a servant leader and to lead by example. Her involvement was inspired by her grandmother, the late Pearline Greene of Hartford. Ayana is often a person that community members count on for guidance and advice. As such, she continues to advocate for the oftentimes voiceless, making sure people know what servant leadership means and looks like and hopes that if she has done anything in this world, she has left it better than how she found it making sure people feel seen and heard. Ayana continues to take full advantage of her seat at tables to bring a fresh perspective and thoughtful approach and if there is no seat, she gladly brings her own.
Ayana’s dedication to her community and church is very important to her, and she is often asked what role of the many hats that she wears does she enjoy best. She proudly answers that her favorite and most impactful role is being the mother to her children, Chloe and Steven.