Over the last several years, Michael’s work focused on convening and facilitating cross-sector, cross-cultural, and cross-generational collaboration to build more just and sustainable communities in Minnesota. He started the Social Innovation Lab with some colleagues for this purpose. They have had over a thousand community change makers participate in half-day events to find new connections and ideas to advance their work. Michael also developed several two year long in-depth innovation labs, focused on collaborative systems change work in the following areas:
- Closing racial disparities in employment in the Twin Cities
- Youth social enterprise
- Trauma-informed approaches to health and human services
- Closing racial disparities in the local juvenile justice system
- Community-driven health and wellness
Michael lived in Minneapolis with his wife and two kids. Surrounded in love and held by his family, Michael passed away in February 2020 after a 4+ year battle with brain cancer.
This profile was last updated February 10, 2020