A bearded man in glasses, a cap, and a colorful skull shirt hugs a one-eyed golden retriever. The man has tattoos on his arms and both face the camera, posing in front of a blue backdrop.

Brent Taylor

SHARE Military Initiative Peer Support Lead Liaison

Journey to the peer support program

After serving in the Marine Corps, I spent years trying to figure out who I was outside of the uniform. Like many veterans, I carried more than I knew how to name at the time. In 2021, I came to the SHARE Military Initiative as a client, and that experience helped me reconnect with my voice, my purpose, and the parts of myself I thought I had lost. SHARE gave me the space to be honest, challenged, supported, and reminded that healing does not mean becoming someone new. Sometimes it means coming home to who you really are.

Role and tenure

I currently serve as a Peer Support Liaison with the SHARE Military Initiative. In this role, I help bridge the gap between clients and the clinical team by offering lived experience, encouragement, accountability, and practical support throughout the program. My background includes serving in the United States Marine Corps, working in veteran nonprofit programming, facilitating post-traumatic growth programs, and supporting service members, veterans, and their families through major life transitions. As a former SHARE client, I know how difficult it can be to walk through the doors for the first time, and I consider it a privilege to help others feel seen, supported, and capable during their time here.

Favorite thing about the program

My favorite part of SHARE is watching clients begin to believe in themselves again. Many people arrive feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or unsure if anything can really help. Then, over time, you see small changes: someone speaks up in group, asks for help, laughs again, sets a boundary, or starts imagining a future that feels possible. By graduation, it is powerful to see clients recognize their own strength and leave with more confidence, connection, and hope than they came in with.

Life outside Shepherd Center

Outside of work, I enjoy music, songwriting, being outdoors, and spending time with my service dog, George. My faith, family, Appalachian roots, and Marine Corps experience all continue to shape how I see the world and how I show up for others. I’m passionate about creating spaces where people feel known, challenged, and encouraged to keep moving forward.