Dr.  Henry Louis Taylor, Jr. research focuses on a historical and contemporary analysis of distressed urban neighborhoods, social isolation and race and class issues among people of color, especially African Americans and Latinos. 

Within this framework, Taylor’s research also focuses on these issues in Cuba, the Caribbean Islands and Latin America.  Lastly, Taylor is concerned with the redevelopment of shrinking cities and metropolitan cities, with a focus on social, economic and racial justice.

• Ph.D. (Urban History) University at Buffalo
• M.A. (Urban History) University at Buffalo
• M.S. (Audiology) University of Tennessee
• B.S. (Speech Pathology) Tennessee A&I State University

Dr. Taylor coordinates the Neighborhood Planning and Community Development Specialization and teaches courses in central city revitalization, urban management, and race, class and gender and the city.  Taylor also coordinates the Center for Urban Studies’Urban Internship Program, which creates opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to become involved in neighborhood redevelopment initiatives and in research projects.

Dr. Taylor is a member of the Steering Committee of the Anchor Institutions Task Force, a national organization that develops and disseminates knowledge to help create and advance democratic, mutually beneficial anchor institution-community partnerships.  Also, he is a member of the Board of Overseers of The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government of the State University of New York.  Taylor has serviced on the governing boards of the Urban Affairs Association and the Urban History Association.  He is on the Board of the Editors of Universities and Community Schools, published by Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania, and is the planning coordination for the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority’s Perry Choice Neighborhood Initiative and the founder of the Perry Choice Neighborhood History Project.  He created the Cyberhood (thecyberhood.net) on behalf of the Urban Affairs Association.

• 2012 Lee Benson Activist Scholar Award, the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, University of Pennsylvania, November 12, 2012;  
• 2009 U.S. Small Business Administration—Buffalo District Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year.  The award is based on Taylor’s role in founding and developing the Allstate Minority & Women Emerging Entrepreneurs Program, one of the top minority & women business support programs in the United States;  
• 2008.   Outstanding Program Award—East Side Neighborhood Transformation Partnership (ESNTP).  The Community Development Society; 
•  2008 Time Magazine Quote of the Week on how Americans have lost sight of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message, January 21;   
• 2005 Distinguished Leadership, Michael J. Krasner Professional Planner Award,   American Planning Association, New York Upstate Chapter and Western New York Section;  
• 2005 Outstanding Planning Award, Planning Implementation, Conceptual Transit-Orientated Development Plan for the Allen-Medical Campus and Summer-Best Stations, Buffalo New York (David Gamble, Chan Krieger & Associates, Michael Pratt, Watts Engineers, Henry L. Taylor, Daniel Hess, Peter Lombardi, and Jane Humphreys, Center for Urban Studies, UB);  
• 2001  The Fannie Mae Foundation Award for the Best Action Research  Paper in Housing and Community Development at the 2001 Associate of Collegiate Schools of Planning National Conference; 
• 2000 YMCA Toast to Buffalo Award for Distinguished Leadership.