Skip to Main Content Skip to Footer Toggle Navigation Menu

Sam Taitel

Assistant Director, Lealtad-Suzuki Center for Social Justice

Lealtad-Suzuki Center for Social Justice
651-696-6652

they/them/theirs

Sam Taitel [they/them] is a Mixed, Black and Ashkenazi, Queer community connector, martial artist, and facilitator living on occupied Dakota, Lakota, Nakota, and Anishinaabe lands. After coming to Minneapolis from New York City in late 2018, Sam now lives in the Longfellow neighborhood with their partner, pups, and cat. A huge influence in their life has been Aikido, a Japanese martial art centered on embracing conflict and broadening perspective, which they began practicing in 1999 and have achieved the rank of sandan (third-degree black belt). Intentional training is the routine to which Sam returns that allows space and capacity for new growth. A common theme throughout their work, professionally and always one too many passion projects, is nourishing individual and community safety through hyperlocal relationship building, authenticity, and body forward inquiry. They deeply believe that uplifting people’s capacities to be sensitive and aware can radically shift how we share this world together; we must notice to care. Sam joined the LSC team in 2023.