Michelle Pappas – understands life with a disability. She brings her expertise and passion to the urgent need for finding and maintaining access to housing and health care. This takes persistence and advocacy. It allows her to practice empathy and compassion on a daily basis. Michelle knows that working towards racial equity and inclusion through housing, environmental, and transportation justice helps create community – something that is vital to a healthy life. She explains, “People aren’t struggling because they’ve given up – survival mode makes it impossible to thrive right now.” She finds the best option to destress is spending time outdoors with friends and family.