Alumni Snapshots: Q&A with Gusty Taler '74

Alumni Director Carrie MacVean Grimes '91 checked in recently with Gusty Taler '74, to seek her mentorship of a Severn junior on a school project, and to congratulate her on her recent recognition as one of The Daily Record's 2020 Influential Marylanders. Gusty, the Chief Operating Officer of Maryland Legal Aid, was recognized in the category of Civic Leadership. Described as a “true influencer,” Taler is lauded for her ability to understand what the Maryland’s residents need to thrive, including programs and services that can create life-changing outcomes for individuals and communities.
What has surprised you about your path?
The adage about best-laid plans is true.  They often and unexpectedly go awry. While my own path has had its share of twists and turns -- some good, some less so -- one lesson learned is that when “planning” one’s path, it is important to be flexible and open to taking different routes. Professionally, I started off pursuing social work, but ended up in public relations for 17 years, obtaining a Master’s degree in the field and working in government, non-profit, and corporate settings.

Then in my mid-30s, I switched gears and went to law school. As a lawyer, I have been in private practice, worked for a women’s advocacy group, served as a legislative aide, was a chief of staff for a state agency, and started a program, which still exists today, aimed at serving the legal needs of immigrant victims of domestic violence.  For the past 15 years, I have had the honor and privilege of being the Chief Operating Officer for Maryland Legal Aid (MLA), a statewide non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to Maryland’s poor.

Who or what have been an inspiration to you in your personal and/or professional life?
While I have been fortunate to have several guiding forces in my life, my parents were undoubtedly my most significant sources of inspiration and encouragement.  I am first generation American. My parents were Holocaust survivors and came to this county with my brother (Severn class of 1967) in 1950.  My father, Dr. Joseph Taler, before his death in 2012, was a frequent lecturer at Severn about his experiences during the war. While my mother was not as open or eager to share her story in such a public way, it was clear that the war had left an indelible mark on her.

My parents were the embodiment of the American dream. With virtually nothing, they came by ship from Eastern Europe to America via Ellis Island (New York). Through much hard work and the generous support of resettlement agencies, friends, colleagues, and distant family members, they were able to build a beautiful life in America for themselves and for me and my brother. For that, I will be forever grateful and appreciative. Their unwavering perseverance, zeal, inquisitiveness, and initiative were instilled in me at a very young age and have stayed with me throughout my life.

What is your “why”? 
Different things motivate people at different stages of their lives.  What motivates me now is the challenge of helping those less fortunate in ways that are meaningful and enduring.  One recent example is the development of MLA’s Lawyer in the Library program.  In April 2015, the death of Freddie Gray, while in police custody, ignited much unrest in Baltimore City, particularly in West Baltimore.  In watching the news coverage of the strife, there was one story of heroism that stood out. The public library in West Baltimore stayed open amid the chaos to serve as a safe haven for neighborhood residents. The branch manager’s grit and determination to serve her community provided the impetus for MLA’s Lawyer in the Library program. Within a few short weeks of seeing the news story, my MLA colleagues and I were able to leverage our existing partnerships to create the program.

Every Tuesday for two hours and once a month on Saturdays, staff from MLA’s Baltimore City office would go to the West Baltimore library to conduct legal clinics for patrons of the library. Special emphasis was placed on expungement of criminal records. The expungement laws in Maryland were expanding, and have continued to do so, in terms of the range of matters that could be expunged. Clearing such records meant that more people could enter the workforce or enhance their current employment situations, secure decent housing, and even obtain custody of their children.

At first only a handful of residents came to the library. Within a few months, however, they were coming by the hundreds. What started as a small community outreach program to address the civil legal needs of a particularly hard-hit community has become a statewide program, serving thousands of people, with a team of dedicated staff and volunteers.  Legal clinics are scheduled not only in libraries, but also in places of worship, community centers, health facilities, housing complexes, schools, drug treatment centers, homeless shelters, and non-profit organizations of all types. 

Who was a mentor to you at Severn and what wisdom/guidance did they impart to you that’s still a part of who you are?
As part of the first group of girls accepted to Severn in 1971, the prospect of “infiltrating” a revered bastion of male education was both terrifying and exciting.  In retrospect, it was probably equally so for the young boys who were to be our classmates and for the teachers who, until that time, had only taught male students at the school.  While there were moments of teenage angst and self-doubt, what I remember most was a welcoming student body and administration and an energetic faculty eager to invite new perspectives into their classrooms.

It is impossible to select just one person as my key mentor at Severn. There were so many who shared their wisdom and guidance, including many of my fellow classmates. Some of the teachers, though, who had the most impact on me were Colonel Adams, Hank Constantine, Eugene Festa, and Madame Iwanicki – all wonderful and caring teachers who modeled tolerance, patience, compassion, and humor.

Advice you’d like to impart to our graduates as they launch in uncertain times.
Life is not linear. It is filled with winding roads that, if you are amenable, curious, and prudent, can take you to places of which you have never dreamed. Be open to all of life’s possibilities. Create and nurture close relationships. Engage in something that brings you joy, whether it be an avocation or vocation, and believe in yourself. Recognize you have much for which to be grateful and do for others. Finally, be a person of integrity.

Severn School in one sentence.
Severn School provides its students with a head start on realizing their aspirations and a solid foundation from which to launch their futures.
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