Michelle was a tireless advocate not only for every community she came from, but for the right of working people everywhere to live free from racism and poverty. Under her leadership, Woods Fund Chicago modeled a version of philanthropy that was accountable first to the communities it served.

Within a year of her tenure, Michelle began conversations with Woods Fund Chicago’s board about raising the foundation’s payout to more effectively meet the needs of our communities and grantee partners. Under her bold leadership, Woods Fund nearly tripled its payout between 2020 and 2026. Michelle became a vocal and effective advocate for an expansive version of fiduciary responsibility, one that put the fate of a foundation’s partners and communities ahead of pure preservation of an endowment. 

In the face of rising fascism, Michelle was a courageous and principled leader, steadfast ally, and staunch voice urging philanthropy to cleave to its values and step into the breach. For more than a year, she has worked with the Woods Fund Chicago board to align the foundation’s investment policy to our values. And this past summer, she led our team in a refinement of our grantmaking criteria to more rigorously resource organizing that builds people power and challenges oppression.

Michelle came to Woods Fund Chicago with deep roots as an educator, an organizer for the liberation of Puerto Rican political prisoners, and an advocate for youth voice and power. She headed the Mikva Challenge, served on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s transition committee and the Chicago School Board, and supported myriad Chicago organizations as a board member and mentor. She was a generous, rigorous, and creative executive and collaborator. 

Through it all, Michelle's family was always at the center of her world. Those wishing to honor her memory can donate here to support her loved ones during this time of profound grief.

Michelle’s legacy will reverberate through every organization she resourced, leader she mentored, and life she touched: Chicago will feel her impact for decades to come.

In love and solidarity,

Mia Henry
Interim President