Staff

Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts as the only daughter of immigrant parents, Aba Taylor experienced and witnessed the impact of social and global inequities at an early age. Curious about the world, she ventured out as a young Black woman to experience traveling, living, and working in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. 

For the last 25 years, Aba has engaged in social justice work as an educator, facilitator, organizer, consultant, nonprofit executive, and board member, and has held key leadership roles with mission-driven institutions working to uplift BlPOC communities, women and girls, immigrants, LGBTQ+ communities, and other historically disadvantaged groups on local, regional, national, and international scales. From working internationally at the United Nations facilitating gender mainstreaming and advocating against violence against women and girls; to conducting gender-based civil rights and diversity and inclusion training and consulting all over the United States, to leading high impact social impact and philanthropic organizations and efforts, Aba has committed herself to supporting the capacity of nonprofit, educational and philanthropic leaders, groups, and institutions dedicated to social transformation.  

Prior to joining YW Boston, Aba was the Executive Director of a Greater Boston community foundation and previously held multiple senior leadership roles at the Interaction Institute for Social Change (IISC), a national leadership and racial equity consulting firm. Prior to that, Aba was the Executive Director of the Network for Social Justice and the Chair of the Massachusetts Human Rights Coalition, and before that the Deputy Executive Director of the Astraea Foundation for Justice. She is also a sought-after consultant, facilitator, and keynote speaker, and has been recognized for her work through the City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office. She has sat on numerous boards such as Class Action, the Audre Lorde Project, and Community Change, Inc.–a 57-year-old anti-racist organizing nonprofit based in Boston. Most recently, Aba joined the Board of Directors for Essential Partners, a national organization that helps people build relationships across differences to address their communities’ most pressing challenges. She is also the Board President of the Neighborhood Schools Inc., a small school inspired by the Freedom School movements. 

Aba holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University and a Master of Arts degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the School of International Training. She is a Rockwood Leadership Institute alumnus and a certified trainer with Quabbin Mediation. Her writing has been featured in The AFRican Magazine, Q-Zine, and the Boston Globe.  

Passionate about arts, culture, and creative expression, Aba is a closeted writer and a very out sci-fi nerd. For Aba, liberatory parenting as well as spiritual and healing practices are her North Star.