John Taylor Chapman

-Liesel Schmidt

For John Taylor Chapman, there just aren’t enough hours in the day. A City Council member for the City of Alexandria as well as a community use specialist for Fairfax County public schools, he’s also the founder and owner of Manumission Tour Company. “I’m deeply passionate about Black history, and it was something that I didn’t learn a lot about growing up. Alexandria has such a rich Black history though, so about five years ago, I developed a tour company that would invite people to learn about it and explore all the places that are so connected to that history,” says Chapman.

When he actually does find a few minutes of down time, the 40-year-old father of one loves to collect bourbon and has become a connoisseur. “My favorites are Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, though I also really like Smoke Wagon.”

As a City Councilman, Chapman’s empathetic nature has been a great asset in working with people. “Trying to understand people’s perspective, trying to understand what people are feeling when they’re upset about an issue they’re facing—all of that has been a big strength in my work.”