Sessions
Pass the Mic: Advocacy from the Bottom Up
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Thu
Michelle Avila is a lifelong Bronxite with a deep commitment to public service. Michelle has over a decade of combined experience in the government and non-profit sectors, including substantial experience in issue advocacy, coalition building, message development, and policy analysis. Michelle is currently the Assistant Director of Public Policy at Children’s Aid. In her capacity, she assists the Director of Public Policy in leading the organization’s government relations, community engagement and advocacy strategy. Prior to her work within Children’s Aid, Michelle was the Manager of Community and City Affairs within NYU Langone Health’s Office of Government and Community Affairs. Michelle spent five years in the Office of Development at NYU Langone Health where she worked closely with the Senior Vice President managing fundraising and engagement for the Board of Trustees. Michelle has also worked for a New York State Assemblymember in the Bronx and was a senior advisor to a state Senate campaign in 2018. Michelle earned an MPA in Public and Nonprofit Management & Policy from NYU Wagner and a BA in Political Science from Fordham University.