A 12th grade student in Texas, Michael spent two weeks without electricity or water after Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and four years later witnessed the community impacts of a winter storm that knocked out power to more than 4.5 million households and businesses. Motivated by those disasters, Michael joined the Emergency Preparedness Committee with UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative in Houston to create disaster preparedness infographics and videos to distribute to schools and across various social media platforms. As a YPC member and an advocate for animals, Michael would like to help boost pet preparedness efforts in Houston.
Michael also serves on the Mental Health Committee of the Houston Mayor’s Youth Council, where he helped design a website on mental health resources. Additionally, Michael is also a member of the Youth Police Advisory Council, in which he meets with the police chief to advise on topics related to youth, such as bullying, peer pressure, and teen suicide. Youth Police Advisory council activities also include service projects to benefit disadvantaged families and engaging with the senior community. Michael worked on the Houston Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights Committee to help advance children’s rights and equitable access to nature and the outdoors.
In his free time, Michael enjoys biking, working out at the gym and detailing cars. He also likes cinematography, using a drone to capture sunsets, city skylines, and nature scenes.