Representative Cheikh Taylor

Cheikh Taylor is a Democratic state representative from Mississippi's House District 38, which encompasses Oktibbeha, Clay, and Lowndes counties. A native of Starkville, Taylor was born and raised in the Needmore neighborhood and comes from a family dedicated to community service. His mother founded the Brick Fire Project, a mentoring program providing childcare, after-school programs, and summer camps for underserved children. His father, a Howard University graduate, inspired Taylor to pursue higher education and public service.

As a community leader, Taylor serves as the executive director of the Brickfire Project, a nonprofit community development agency providing services to the Golden Triangle region, including early childhood education, after-school and summer programs, affordable housing, job skills training, and social justice reform. He developed and championed Project Clean Slate, an expungement forum in its third year of operation designed to help individuals overcome past mistakes and improve employment prospects.

Taylor is married to Jamila Taylor and has two children, Leilah and Ahmir, who both attend Starkville High School.

Education

Taylor graduated from Starkville High School in 1992 and earned his degree from Howard University.

Political Experience

Taylor has been a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives since 2017 . He serves on multiple legislative committees including Accountability, Efficiency, and Transparency; County Affairs; Corrections; Energy; and Workforce Development.

In July 2023, Taylor was elected chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party, a position that places him uniquely as both a state legislator and party leader. Beyond his legislative role, he has served on various community boards including Habitat for Humanity, the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors Advisory Council, the Starkville Area Arts Council, and the Oktibbeha County Food Policy Council.