ABOUT MICHELLE
A native of Minnesota, Michelle grew up in a loving family, but often struggled feeling fully accepted by her peers. As the product of an inter-racial marriage, Michelle frequently felt misunderstood and discouraged to embrace her identity as a bi-racial individual. This fueled her desire to open a community center where people from all different races and backgrounds could belong, feel loved, and walk in their true identity. Ten years after graduating from the U of MN Carlson School of Management with a business degree, Michelle found TreeHouse, who’s mission and vision aligned perfectly with her calling to help struggling youth and their families.
MICHELLE’S HISTORY
Michelle got her first experience in dealing with a struggling youth when she said “I do” to her first husband. At the tender age of 23, she became the step-parent of a 4 year old boy who looked adorable on the outside but was hurting on the inside. Over the next 13 years she would personally experience the heartbreak, hopelessness, and frustration of trying to parent a child who, had seen too much and experienced too much too early in life. Those years were very dark and challenging and many nights she wanted to give up. Little did she know that this experience would prepare her to work at TreeHouse 10 yrs later with other teens and parents who were struggling with overwhelming circumstances.
MICHELLE TODAY
Today Michelle has mentored hundreds of teens, spoken both locally & internationally to youth, parents, youth workers, school administrators, churches, community organizations & business professionals. She is currently working at the Center for Transformation and Training as a Biblical Counselor and Spiritual Director, training and equipping organizations like TreeHouse to apply the power of God’s word to experience spiritual, emotional, mental and relational healing in their lives and the lives of others. In her downtime you will find Michelle raising teenagers of her own, singing off-beat with her husband, and continuing to grow & enjoy each new season of life.