Michelle Gallarza is a Master of Urban and Regional Planning student at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. She is committed to utilizing the tools of planning and policy to promote healthy and sustainable communities, particularly in under-invested Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and immigrant neighborhoods. Michelle is currently a Research Fellow for Environmental Justice at the Luskin Center for Innovation, advancing policy research efforts on extreme heat adaptation in California. As part of the Luskin Senior Fellows Program, she is volunteering with the Liberty Hill Foundation to support public forums on climate equity in Los Angeles. Michelle also serves on the First-Generation Graduate Student Council, working to create an inclusive and supportive community for first-gen grad students across UCLA.

Prior to pursuing her MURP degree, Michelle worked for a number of years in the nonprofit and public sectors. Most recently, she served as Development Manager at The Greenlining Institute, leading the synthesis and storytelling of Greenlining’s policy initiatives through the intersectional lenses of racial, environmental, and economic equity. Michelle got her start in public service as a 2019-2020 San Francisco Fellow, where she was enlisted to help conduct a Community Needs Assessment to respond to the lived experiences of San Francisco’s most resilient families. She launched her career in the heart of Los Angeles, advancing equitable access to education and social services at Para Los Niños in Skid Row, and advocating for immigrant and labor rights at the National Day Laborer Organizing Network in Westlake/MacArthur Park.

Michelle is excited and humbled to be joining the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office as a 2022-2023 Bohnett Fellow. A born and raised Angelina, Michelle is honored by the opportunity to serve her city and work toward a more just Los Angeles where all can benefit from its prosperity.

Michelle is a first-generation college graduate and holds a B.A. in Sociology with High Honors from UC Berkeley.