About Syda (Click pictures for video/article)

Syda Segovia Taylor is the Founder and Executive Director of Organic Oneness, a grassroots social justice organization that brings people together to eliminate racism and create healthy communities in Chicago.

With over 30 years of experience serving high-profile nonprofits and city agencies, she has emerged as a nationally recognized leader in racial justice and healing, stewarding more than $30 million in program funding across her career.

​Blending her experience as a dancer, youth practitioner, and physical education/health teacher, she designs innovative community-building programs that harness the transformative power of the arts, education, and health.
Syda is one of only six national partners for Dr. Joy DeGruy's Be the Healing Movement and was appointed to Chicago's 40-member Reparations Task Force, where she serves on the Education Subcommittee. She also serves on the Bronzeville State-Designated Cultural District Advisory Council, and the Healthy Schools Campaign's Space to Grow Advisory Council.

In 2026, the American Cancer Society named her a Portraits of Hope Ambassador, recognized by her Chicago Tribune op-ed drawing a parallel between her six-year breast cancer battle and America's struggle with systemic racism. Her public voice extends further through a TEDx talk at Illinois Tech ("World Peace is Inevitable, " November 2024), CNN's "This is Life" with Lisa Ling, and Rainn Wilson's podcast.
Her distinguished career includes pivotal roles at Chicago Public Schools, After School Matters, and Local Initiative Support Corporation, where she managed the multi-million- dollar Elev8 initiative and received the U.S. Department of Education's "Together for Tomorrow" award during the Obama administration. At Project Exploration, she grew services from 15 to 1,500 participants in two years.

Syda holds an M.A. in Community Development & Social Justice from Loyola University Chicago and a B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois Chicago. She has completed fellowships with the Culture of Health Leadership Institute for Racial Healing and Interfaith America Emerging Leaders.

As a member of the Bahá’í Faith and daughter of Honduran and Colombian parents, Syda brings a global perspective to her work and considers herself a world citizen.

​Drawing from her experience as a breast cancer survivor (2008–2014), she embraces interconnected wellness between people and the earth. She provides “Fortress of Wellness” trainings to help her network of social activists and caregivers prevent burnout while pursuing their collective purpose of advancing justice and unity.