Continuing the America’s Work Force Union Podcast Best of 2025 series, we return to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day conversation with Sylvester Taylor, Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC). Taylor, a 34-year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 in St. Louis, shared his experience and journey in the trades, as well as how the union has led him to become a leader in the IBEW’s efforts to improve diversity and inclusion.
Taylor's career began in an unexpected place—a hotel front desk. Struggling to make ends meet, he was inspired by his uncle, a successful IBEW member, to pursue a career in the trades. Despite initial rejections, Taylor's persistence paid off, and he eventually joined the IBEW, marking the start of his journey. His leadership roles within the union, his election to the Missouri House of Representatives, and his involvement in co-founding Local 1’s branch of the EWMC underscore his commitment to advocacy and change.
Taylor's experience in the IBEW has been transformative, not just for him but for the communities he serves. He emphasized the importance of opportunity. By providing a new path to the trades for minority and other underrepresented workers, they are provided the opportunity to improve their lives and make a difference. His work aims to ensure that underserved communities have access to the trades, which he sees as a pathway to the middle class.
As an apprenticeship ambassador under the Biden administration, Taylor's efforts have led to significant increases in diversity within IBEW apprenticeship programs. Some of the classes now boast over 30 percent representation from minority groups. Taylor said changing the landscape of the trades will take time. He emphasized the importance of persistence and the necessity of continuous effort, noting that progress is being made, albeit slowly.
Listen to the full episode of the America's Work Force above to hear more from Taylor's Jan. 20 conversation and the work to improve diversity in the IBEW.