About John Taylor Chapman
John Taylor Chapman, a fourth generation Alexandria resident, is running for city council because he believes every Alexandria resident should have access to quality and affordable housing, as well as the ability to attend world-class schools.
Many families are being challenged during these tough economic times. Chapman, no stranger to living and surviving economic hardship, grew up residing in two different public housing communities located near Charles Houston Recreation Center in the James Bland 
Homes and later in the Quaker Hill development, located off of Duke Street. He and his family also briefly lived in an Alexandria community shelter in order to make ends meet. It took years of sacrifice and community support, but Chapman’s family was eventually able to buy a home in the Taylor Run community of Alexandria.
Through experience Chapman knows financial adversity can happen to any family – no matter how prepared. As a result, he recognizes the importance of making sure Alexandria’s families gain access to quality and affordable housing, so they are able to remain active residents in our city.
Education is the cornerstone of any healthy, viable and competitive community. Chapman cares deeply about the education of future generations and is dedicated to making sure our city provides the best education for Alexandria’s children. Chapman is a current administrator with Fairfax County Public School System, where he manages an afterschool program for middle school students. Chapman has also volunteered on the Alexandria Public School Board’s Budget Advisory Committee and the Alexandria Public Schools’ Special
Education Advisory Committee, both of which afforded invaluable opportunities to manage and provide strategic recommendations to improve the school system’s budget. Chapman also took part in the Alexandria City Public Schools Strategic Planning process in 2009, while serving as Vice Chair of the Youth Policy Commission. Participating in this process gave him insight into how extraordinary Alexandria’s school system can be with the right leadership in place. Chapman is committed to making an indelible yet sustainable positive impact, by using his experience working with youth and key educational stakeholders to recommend transformational policies for the benefit of the Alexandria school system.
The community is only as strong as its most committed volunteer. Chapman believes this; and, for nearly a decade, Chapman has supported Alexandria community and nonprofit organizations as a dedicated volunteer. Chapman recently served as the President of the 
Alexandria Branch of the NAACP, working to re-engage members in Alexandria’s communities of color. Chapman has also been a member of the Taylor Run Citizens Association Executive Board since 2008 and has served as the Vice President of Membership for the group. He has also served Alexandria through other various organizations, boards and commissions which are listed on his community involvement page.
Chapman currently lives in the Taylor Run neighborhood of Alexandria. He matriculated and graduated from St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes High School in Alexandria in 1999. He is also a graduate of Saint Olaf College in Minnesota, having obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies Education in 2003. Since 2006, Chapman has worked for Fairfax County Public Schools as an After School Specialist at Edgar Allan Poe Middle School in Annandale, Virginia.
