Margaret Caples, Executive Director of the Community Film Workshop of Chicago, started her career as a community organizer and social worker. Margaret has a Master's degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. She married the photographer and filmmaker, Jim Taylor, who went on to become an early Director of the Community Film Workshop of Chicago (CFWC).

Community Film workshop established an environment where many people of color and women news cameramen, editors, producers, and the technical crews on television, commercials, feature films and independent media projects could get their start. Margaret continues her late husband's philosophy of hard work, creativity and personal accountability.

Margaret has served on the Boards of the National Alliance of Media Arts and Culture, Chicago Area Film and Video Network, and CAN TV pushing for racial equity and access in the media. She believes in building strong community partnerships. Margaret is active in the Englewood Cultural Planning Council, the Kennedy-King College Media Communications Advisory Board and the Advisory Committee for the 21st Century Learning Center at Harper High School.

Alexandra Juhasz featured Ms. Caples in the documentary and book, Women of Vision: Histories in Feminist Film and Video. Additionally, Margaret has been honored with: the first Big Shoulders Award by the Chicago Film Critics' Association, the CityArts 20th Anniversary Award presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, and the ETA Creative Arts Foundation Award for "Stretching the Boundaries."