Meet Madison Taylor | Marketing Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Madison Taylor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madison, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
I believe true happiness comes from connection, When you feel connected to something– whether it be a person or group of people, a higher power, nature, a deep sense of self– you gain a sense of purpose and belonging. There is something so innately human about connecting with each other. So what makes me happy? Spending time with people I love, serving my community, immersing myself in nature, and anything that allows me to tap in to that feeling of connection and belonging.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I graduated from Tennessee Tech University in 2017 with a Bachelor’s in Business Marketing. I was always sort of up in the air when it came to the ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ question and found myself on the other side of graduation still very unsure. As I was entering the job market, I realized a lot of the options around me in my field of study were sales positions. I was not particularly interested in sales and found that I really had no drive to pursue a position with companies I wasn’t passionate about.

One day, after a couple of unfruitful months of searching, I decided to open up Google and simply type ‘Jobs that help people.’ I didn’t realize at the time, but this simple search set me on the path I’m still on 6 years later. When I hit ‘Search’, the first thing to come up was the PeaceCorps. While I was very interested in the opportunity and experience, I had some life circumstances that would not allow me to leave the country for 2 years. This brought me to AmeriCorps, a similar but perhaps less known opportunity for National Service within the U.S.

I decided I would give it a shot, and less than one month later I was signed on to pack my bags and move 1,200 miles across the country from Tn to Co for an AmeriCorps VISTA Service Year. That AmeriCorps position brought me to Spark the Change Colorado (formerly Metro Volunteers). For my year of service, I coordinated volunteers for Spark’s Mental Wellness Program, which provides free mental health services to those who need it.

Fast forward to the present and I am still with Spark the Change Colorado, only as a full-time Marketing Director, using my degree to its fullest. Through the past 6 years, I’ve held a variety of roles and had the opportunity to coordinate volunteers, manage programs, supervise individuals, and grow professionally in practically every facet of nonprofit work. I’ve had the unique experience of joining Spark on the journeys of rebranding, statewide expansion, exponential growth, program creation, and more! While there were bumps and struggles along the way, I am so proud of my experience and the career I’ve built. At only 27, I never could have imagined reaching Director level, using my degree, and being an integral part of an organization I am passionate about.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would, of course, have to take them to a show at Red Rocks! I also love hiking and the outdoors, so they would have to check out Rocky Mountain National Forest, St. Mary’s Glacier, and the Sand Dunes. I also really love camping near the Leadville/Buena Vista area. And I would have to take them to a hot springs while they were here! I have also yet to make the trip out west to Mesa Verde, so that would be one we could try together. There are so many amazing options around Denver and throughout Colorado!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to Spark the Change Colorado, a nonprofit organization I’ve had the privilege of working for the past 6 years. Over that time, I’ve experienced more support, growth, and mentorship than I could’ve imagined. While the organization has grown, I’ve been able to grow right along with it, both professionally and personally.

Website: http://www.sparkthechangecolorado.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkthechangeco

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sparkthechangecolorado/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SparkChangeCO

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparkthechangeco/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8De2Ve2NvIDOBiOnhvSckA