Subscribe to Next Economy Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Google Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you find podcasts.
In 1994, Paul Taylor (now known as Taylor Paul) was given a life sentence plus 26 years, of which he served 23 consecutive years before being granted parole in 2017. While on the inside, Taylor facilitated the state-mandated Cognitive Community Reentry Programs for the Virginia Department of Corrections for over five years. He ultimately went on to create his own program, called SANITY: Standing Against Negative Influences Towards Youth, and Co-founded the RVA League for Safer Streets, an unconventional basketball team that specifically targets and engages high-crime areas in Richmond, Virginia.
Their motto, “No workshop, no jump shot,” lets players know that workshops on conflict resolution, problem-solving, and critical thinking are mandatory before even dribbling the ball. Taylor is also a sought-after motivational speaker, one of the equity advisors for the White Men for Racial Justice (WMRJ) group, and a passionate advocate for restorative justice, unitive justice, and criminal justice reform.
In today’s episode, Taylor shares the paradigm shift that occurred for him while he was in prison that forced him to reconsider how he was utilizing his innate capacity as a leader, embrace the Islamic concept of taqwa or ‘piety’, and focus on cultivating joy to prevent future generations from making the same mistakes he did. We also gain some insight into why he now goes by Taylor Paul, his mission to ‘restore humanity’ in people, and how you can help Taylor build the next economy by suspending judgment and remaining open-minded, so make sure to tune in today!
---
Key Points From This Episode:
How Taylor came to rethink the innate leadership skills that originally landed him in prison.
The Islamic concept of taqwa and how it informs his approach to restorative justice.
How he cultivates joy to prevent future generations from making the same mistakes he did.
Why he chose to forsake his given name, Paul Taylor, and now goes by Taylor Paul.
Discover how the RVA League for Safer Streets seeks to eradicate some of the social ills that Taylor says he “once helped to create.”
His refusal to be defined by his crime and his mission to ‘restore humanity’ in people.
Consistently balancing building individual relationships with creating systemic change.
What the appointment of Governor Youngkin signals for Virginia’s criminal justice system.
The importance of addressing the mental health needs of the community.
How you can help Taylor build the next economy: be mindful and suspend judgment of those who are reentering your communities.
---
Tweetables:
“[By] giving that perspective from urban communities to help [the White Men for Racial Justice group] understand the sights, sounds of urban communities, I’m also learning that there are some people in this world that don’t mind using their privilege to turn the ship around.” — Taylor Paul
“The best leader is the person that keeps himself below the people that he is leading.” — Taylor Paul
“When I leave this world, I don’t want people to say, ‘He was a gangster.’ I want them to say, ‘He loved God, he cared about his family, he cared about his community, and he gave more than he received.’” — Taylor Paul
“Unconventional behavior calls for unconventional strategy.” — Taylor Paul
“The answer to your [problems] may come from a person that may be incarcerated. I want you to be mindful and suspend judgment for those that are coming home and give them some opportunities.” — Taylor Paul
---
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Taylor Paul on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-taylor-12abb5163/
Taylor Paul on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/taylor.paul.3538
Taylor Paul Email — 921taylorp@gmail.com
RVA League for Safer Streets — https://www.facebook.com/Rva-League-for-Safer-Streets-2026434890912601/
Community 50/50 — https://community5050.com/
---
LIFT Economy Newsletter
Join 8,000+ subscribers and get our free 60-point business design checklist—plus monthly tips, advice, and resources to help you build the Next Economy: https://lifteconomy.com/newsletter
---
Next Economy MBA
This episode is brought to you by the Next Economy MBA.
What would a business education look like if it was completely redesigned for the benefit of all life? This is why the team at LIFT Economy created the Next Economy MBA (https://lifteconomy.com/mba).
The Next Economy MBA is a nine month online course for folks who want to learn key business fundamentals (e.g., vision, culture, strategy, and operations) from an equitable, inclusive, and regenerative perspective.
Join the growing network of 350+ alumni who have been exposed to new solutions, learned essential business skills, and joined a lifelong peer group that is catalyzing a global shift towards an economy that works for all life.
Learn more at https://lifteconomy.com/mba.
---
Show Notes + Other Links
For detailed show notes and interviews with past guests, please visit https://lifteconomy.com/podcast.
If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It really helps expose these ideas to new listeners: https://bit.ly/nexteconomynow
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LIFTEconomy
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lifteconomy/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/LIFTEconomy/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/Lifteconomy
Music by Chris Zabriskie: https://chriszabriskie.com/