Michael grew up in cities across Orange County, using regional park trailheads and small public beaches to take refuge from well-manicured suburban living. He studied Public Affairs at UCLA, where he pursued a breadth of research, policy advocacy, and peer mentorship experiences. While exploring post-grad opportunities to combine his interest in capacity-building with his writing and research skills, Michael fell in love with Food Forward’s simple yet powerful mission and became the organization’s Grants Coordinator in April 2023. When he’s not working, you can find Michael out on a training run, tinkering with effects pedals for his electric guitar setup, or exploring LA’s meager (but growing!) selection of hot honey pizza.