Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor
Senior Pastor, The Center of Hope International
Co-Founder & CEO, Urban Upbound
Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor is a transformative spiritual leader, visionary, and community advocate whose life exemplifies faith, resilience, and service. Born Mical Hochman to the late Sarah Hochman, he was surrendered at birth to the Louise Wise adoption agency and later adopted by Rev. Moses and Nativadad Taylor, who nurtured his early spiritual foundation.
In 1983, Bishop Taylor experienced a profound spiritual awakening that set him on a path of ministry. By 1987, he was called to establish Astoria Outreach Ministries, which grew into what is now The Center of Hope International—a thriving church and beacon of hope for people of all walks of life. Today, Bishop Taylor continues to serve as Senior Pastor, offering guidance, teaching, and mentorship to countless individuals.
In 2004, driven by a deep commitment to addressing the systemic challenges faced by residents of public housing, Bishop Taylor co-founded Urban Upbound. Under his leadership as CEO, the organization has become a pioneering model for breaking cycles of poverty by integrating financial empowerment, employment services, small business innovation, youth development, mental health services, and housing resources—strategically embedded within NYCHA communities.
Bishop Taylor’s leadership and innovation have been widely recognized. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Brook Astor Award, the Martin Luther King Award from the United Jewish Appeal, and the NYC Neighborhood Achievement Leadership Award. He has participated in the Harvard Kennedy School’s Neighborhood Achievement program and has been profiled by The New York Times, CNN, and NPR. An accomplished author (Unbroken Promises), Bishop Taylor also serves on several boards, including FPWA.
Leadership
- Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor CEO & Co-Founder
- David Miller Chief Financial Officer
- Pintso Topgay Chief Program Officer
- Telisha Lee Director of Human Resources
- Dominique Smith Director of Development
- Alex Malescio Senior Director of Government Relations
- Quneetsha Minor Director of Mental Health and College Access Program Manager
- Ahmad Elmaradny Director, Tax and Income Supports
- Ralph Torres VITA Program Manager
- Junaid Abdin Business Innovation Program Manager
- Chhanda Sutton Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union Branch Manager
- Patricia Saenz Director, Youth Pathways
- Nicole Walker Assistant Director, Youth Pathways
- Nicole Williams Director, Jobs-Plus Astoria
- Nyah Satchell Assistant Director, Jobs-Plus Astoria
- Bashkim Syla Director, Jobs-Plus Long Island City
- Phil Galeazzi Assistant Director, Jobs-Plus Long Island City
- Van Holmes Director, Citywide Workforce Development
- Petra-Ann Younge Director, Financial Fitness
- Pedro Salazar Assistant Director, Financial Fitness
- Dwayne Jones Financial Fitness Program Manager
- Tony Mei Financial Fitness Program Manager
Urban Upbound’s Board of Directors
- Bonnie Bergstein Board Chair KBH Fine Arts
- Chaka Adams VP of Marketing and Community Relations Jovia Financial Credit Union
- Nick Williams Partner, Locke Lord LLP
- Bishop Mitchell Taylor CEO and Co-Founder, Urban Upbound
- Ben Lerer Board Member, Managing Partner Lerer Hippeau
- Frances Faehner Community Advocate
- Claudia Coger Former President, Astoria Houses Tenant Association
- Elysabeth Kleinhans Founding Artistic Director, 59E59 Theaters
- Eric B. DJ, Producer, Actor
- Eric Gioia Managing Director, JPMorgan Chase
- Suraj Patel President, Sun Group Companies
- Mike Woloz President and CEO, CMW Strategies LLC
- Sam Heffernan Partner Downing Capital Group
Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union’s Board of Directors
- Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor
- Joyce Flannagan
- Paul Salas
- Lorraine Moore
- Corinne Haynes
- Barbara King
- Brian Mosley
