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Taylor Church Welcomes
New Staff Members
Sandra V. Sanders-West - Minister-in-Training
Mrs. Sanders-West is a second year Masters of Divinity
student at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. She comes to us with a wealth of experience. Sandra’s career paths have led her to a masters Degree
in French Literature, her profession as a Technical Writer for IBM, Executive Director of Advocates for Women in Berkeley,
American Liaison to Study Abroad in Nantes, France and for the last 14 years, Neighborhood Services Coordinator for the Oakland
Police Department, representing residents of West Oakland. She retired from the OPD in April of 2011, but continues to have
a heart and a passion for the people of West Oakland.
Sandra
is the mother of three adult children. Justin, Alexandra and Allison. This August, she celebrated 36 years of marriage to
her husband, Jerry West. For the past 34 years, she has been a member of Epworth United Methodist Church in Berkeley. 
Lady Bianca - Organist/Soloist
Taylor Church is very pleased to welcome Lady Bianca and her wonderful soulful voice to the music ministry
here at Taylor Church.
Born Bianca Thornton in Kansas
City, Missouri on August 8, 1953, she was influenced by gospel as a child and studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of
Music before lending her contralto to the role of Billie Holiday in an acclaimed production of Jon Hendrick’s Evolution
of the Blues; in the early ‘80s, she appeared on Morrison LPs including Beautiful Vision and Inarticulate Speech of the Heart, and
also backed blues legends like John Lee Hooker and Willie Dixon.
Sonsiris Tamayo -
Adminstrative Assistant
Sonsiris
Tamayo is a Latina-American with Dominican roots. She was raised in the Bronx, NY. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree
in Psychology and English Literature from the College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, NY. Her spiritual call led her to Pacific
School of Religion in Berkeley, California where she received her Masters of Divinity in 2010. Sonsiris is in the PhD program
at Claremont School of Religion in Claremont, California.
Sonsiris worked with the Youth and Young Adult Ministries as a mentor and program coordinator of a young Sistah’s
leadership program at The Riverside Church in NYC for several years before arriving in California. She has participated in
all levels of service in the United Church of Christ. She is proud to have preached across at least six different denominations,
as well as, participation in many interfaith settings.
Sonsiris enjoys friends and family, spending time in nature, writing poetry, taking part in a variety of cultural and
spiritual events, reading, laughing, and dancing!
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Copyright 2012 Taylor Memorial United
Methodist Church
1188-12th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
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