Michelle has called Longmont home for more than 20 years. Before moving to Colorado, she got her start in tech in the Washington, DC area. Her work has taken her from managing software development projects to behavioral health, where she has led local efforts to reimagine the community’s response to mental health and substance use. Michelle is also one of the organizers behind Longmont’s emerging alternative music scene. She founded the Longmont Underground Music Initiative to bring more diverse music to town and support fair artist pay and all-ages shows. Whatever she’s focused on, she’s usually trying to create spaces where people feel they belong. When she’s not working or at a show, you’ll likely find her out on a trail or at a local coffee shop, visiting with neighbors to dream up the next community project.