About | Re-Elect Marlene Taylor Crawford | Lawrenceville City Council

About Marlene Taylor-Crawford

Access. Engagement. Transparency.

Let's make the city thrive for all!

Marlene Taylor-Crawford is unwavering about her commitment to serving. She pursues her passion in education, civic engagement, and advocacy.

Marlene has pursued her love for community service and education throughout her life, investing more than 23 years of community service in Gwinnett County. Marlene has worked in the New York City Public Schools, DeKalb County Public Schools, and Gwinnett County Public Schools. Most of her educational career has been as a school counselor. She focuses on the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion for each person to have a sense of belonging and thrive to their fullest ability. Marlene Taylor-Crawford is honored to be elected to the City of Lawrenceville Councilwoman, Post 4 starting the term on January 1, 2022.

Community

Marlene is a member of Community Action Network Initiative (C.A.N.I.) focusing on civics and civic engagement. She serves on Mending the Gap, Inc. Advisory Council, and the Social Action Ministry at her church. She served previously on the Hooper-Renwick Legacy Preservation Committee, being appointed as one of the twelve members when the committee was established by the City of Lawrenceville. She was appointed by former Gwinnett County Commissioner Marlene Fosque to serve on the Gwinnett Historical Restoration and Preservation Board starting in 2019. She served as chairwoman from (Jan. 2021- Jan. 2022). She is the past President of the United Ebony Society of Gwinnett County, Inc. serving for 10 years. She started her nonprofit organization E.C.H.O.E.S (Ending Child Homelessness Organizing Effective Strategies) for Change. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Awards and Recognitions

Marlene Taylor-Crawford has been recognized and honored for her dedication and accomplishments as President of the United Ebony Society and for her activism in the community. In 2025 she was honored with The Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award. In 2020 she was honored at the state Capitol with Georgia House Resolution 1054, and Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Award by the Women’s Legislative Caucus of Georgia. Local Community awards are One Life Church Black Excellence Award in 2022, New Bethel AME Church Champion for Justice Award 2023, the Rho Kappa Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Community Service Award, Trail Blazer Award from The Family Gwinnett, Robbie S. Moore Community Service Award, Upsilon Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 2021 Community Leaders Award, , and Dancing with the Stars Gwinnett 3rd Place Award. She received recognition for serving on the Gwinnett County Public Schools Inaugural Educational Equity Teams 2020-2021. She has been interviewed by several media outlets over the years such as the Gwinnett Daily Post, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Focus Atlanta, and BBC America.

Education

Marlene has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the City University of New York, York College, a Master of Science in School Counseling from the City University of New York, Hunter College, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Human Services from Nova Southeastern University, and an Educational Specialist Degree in Instructional Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Marlene Taylor-Crawford has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the City University of New York, York College, Master of Science in School Counseling from the City University of New York, Hunter College, Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Human Services from Nova Southeastern University, and an Educational Specialist Degree in Instructional Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Family

Marlene Taylor-Crawford is proud of her African Caribbean American heritage. She is the daughter of a Cuban father and Jamaican mother. She is a wife, mother and grandmother.

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots."

— Marcus Garvey

Highlights

Addressing policies and procedures focusing on a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion in City government.

Addressing the concerns of landlords who have not ensure safe, and livable housing leading to the Multi-Family Inspection Ordinance.

Face to face meetings addressing the concerns and needs of individuals, communities, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations. Many underserved communities that never met with a councilmember.

Instrumental on ensuring changes to the process for Proclamation requests, and application process for the various appointments on board, committees and commissions.

Substantially increased the number of community members applying for the various boards, committees, and commissions.

Working with the Lawrenceville Police Department to increase the training of officers regarding human trafficking.

Inviting residents, faith-based leaders, and other community leaders who represent diverse backgrounds to participate in monthly command meetings with the Lawrenceville Police Department.

Ensuring upgrades to the playground on the Lawrenceville Lawn with equipment accessible to children with different abilities.

Recognition of the Oakland Meadow School during Developmental Disability Awareness Month.

Guest speaker, panel member, interviewer at community, business, and school events such as career week, mock interviews, Read Across America, Black History Month, Keynote speaker at Caleb Foundation: Save Lives with Pennies, and various ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

Supporter of Arbor Day Celebration. Participated in all celebrations in the City of Lawrenceville.

Attending forums across the county highly focusing on youth concerns.

Hooper-Renwick Groundbreaking Ceremony: being involved from the very beginning as a grassroots organizer to preserve the school.

Charles Hale Marker Installation - being involved from the very beginning as a member of the Gwinnett Historical Restoration and Preservation Board and later as councilwoman.

Collaborating with the Lawrenceville Housing Authority, Gwinnett Housing and Live Norcross to host the Bilingual Housing Expo at Central Gwinnett High School.

Ride alongs with the Lawrenceville Police Department and Code Enforcement Director to better understand the needs of the city.

Regularly attending the City of Lawrenceville Planning Commission meetings.

Hosting the Women Luncheon with leadership at the City of Lawrenceville during Women History Month.