Taylor Toynes

THE 1954 PROJECT

2026

LUMINARY

Co-Founder & CEO

For Oak Cliff

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About the Leader

Taylor Toynes is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of For Oak Cliff (FOC), a community backbone organization rooted in the 75216 ZIP code of South Oak Cliff, Dallas, Texas. A proud product of the community he serves, Taylor grew up in Oak Cliff, taught in Oak Cliff, and founded FOC in 2015 driven by the belief that nothing had changed for his neighbors since his own childhood, and that it was time to change that. What began as a Back to School Festival has grown into a full cradle-to-career ecosystem.

About the Work

For Oak Cliff operates a free, 20,000 sq ft community campus in South Oak Cliff's 75216 where neighbors access workforce certifications, early childhood programs, out-of-school time programming and wraparound family support. We host community events that keep neighbors connected year-round. We're tackling chronic absenteeism, filling pre-K seats and building real pathways to college and careers. Over 85,000 neighbors served. 1.7 million meals distributed.

THE 1954 PROJECT

Investing in Durable Leadership & Institutions

The 1954 Project identifies visionary education leaders whose work is strengthening Black communities and invests in them and what they are building with significant, flexible capital and long-term relationship.

Named for the year of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, The 1954 Project honors that promise by backing leaders closest to the work with resources that follow their vision.