LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Susan L. Taylor upon the occasion of her
designation for special recognition

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to publicly recognize
those extraordinary individuals who have made contributions to the
success and progress of society in the course of their life's work; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Susan L. Taylor upon the occasion of her designation for special recog-
nition; and
WHEREAS, Before leaving at the end of 2007 as publications director,
Susan Taylor was the driving force behind ESSENCE MAGAZINE for almost
four decades; she had joined the organization in 1970; and
WHEREAS, A fourth-generation entrepreneur, Susan Taylor was the found-
er of her own company, Nequai Cosmetics, before becoming ESSENCE MAGA-
ZINE's fashion and beauty editor and, in 1981, its editor-in-chief; at
the time of her hire in 1970, she was the only single mom on staff when
she joined ESSENCE, and, as she moved up the editorial ladder, she
always made sure to stress the importance of female staffers living
their personal lives as fully as their professional ones; and
WHEREAS, Susan Taylor has received more than a dozen honorary degrees
from numerous colleges and universities, including Lincoln University,
Spelman College, Dillard University, Bennett College for Women, the
University of Delaware and her alma mater, Fordham University; and
WHEREAS, In addition to her success editing ESSENCE, Susan Taylor has
also excelled as a business executive and in television; during the
1980s, she became vice-president of the magazine's publisher, Essence
Communications, and host/executive producer of the television show
"Essence, the Television Program", a 30 minute interview series produced
in New York and syndicated to 55 network affiliates and independent
stations; the show ran for four seasons in more than 60 countries; and
WHEREAS, In 1999, Susan Taylor became the first African American woman
to receive The Henry Johnson Fisher Award from the MAGAZINE PUBLISHERS
OF AMERICA, the magazine industry's highest honor; in 2002, she was
inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editors' Hall of Fame,
which celebrates the career-long records of excellence, creativity and
impact of a select group of highly influential magazine journalists; and
WHEREAS, A native New Yorker, Susan Taylor's visionary leadership was
acknowledged when the NAACP presented her with its first President's
Award in 2006; she is also an avid supporter of a host of organizations
dedicated to improving the Black community; her passion and focus are on
creating equity in education and turning around the nation's failing
schools, which, she says are "the pipeline to prison"; and
WHEREAS, In December of 2007, Susan Taylor retired from Essence in
order to focus on the nonprofit she started, the "National Cares Mentor-
ing Movement"; the organization is a bold and innovative movement work-
ing to fill the volunteer pipelines of mentoring organizations and
programs dedicated to lifting to higher ground the growing numbers of
Black youngsters falling into peril; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her husband, Khephra and her
daughter, Shana-Nequai, both of whom feel privileged to be a part of her
life and rejoice in her achievements; and
WHEREAS, A true asset to society, Susan Taylor's distinguished record
merits the recognition and respectful tribute of this Legislative Body;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Susan L. Taylor upon the occasion of her designation for special
recognition; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Susan L. Taylor.