A Lion alum working in the U.S. Department of Education recently launched a companion website for a forthcoming book, detailing a framework for attacking poverty and including ways others can assist with the cause.

Dr. Steven C. Taylor, a two-time graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce (now East Texas A&M University), is preparing to release a new book, “Together We Climb: A Community-Driven Approach to Break the Cycle of Poverty and Build Prosperity,” co-authored with Jason Janz, CEO of Denver-based nonprofit CrossPurpose. The companion website, TogetherWeClimb.org, echoes the message and lessons they share in their upcoming book.

Taylor and Janz’ book challenges the way people understand poverty—not as a personal failure, but as a complex climb shaped by broken systems, disconnected supports and unclear pathways. The pair draw on decades of education experience and workforce leadership to address these issues.

Taylor graduated from East Texas A&M in 2005 with a B.S. in Health Education, and in 2007 with and M.S. in Training and Development. He later earned his Doctor of Business Administration at Wilmington University in New Castle, Del. He served for five years on the American Council for Education and currently serves as the vice chair of the Department of Education’s National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality & Integrity.

The “Together We Climb” book releases November 10, and is published by Advantage Books and distributed by Simon and Schuster. Learn more about the upcoming release.