Samuel S. Fels Fund

 

Michelle Currica Hernandez, Grants & Operations Manager

Michelle immigrated to the United States from Georgetown, Guyana to Memphis, TN at the age of six. Since then she has called a few special places home — Atlanta, Tsuno-cho (Japan) and now Philadelphia. An arts advocate, Michelle began her professional career in philanthropy working for the non-profit grantmaker the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, first as the Executive Assistant and then as Program Manager. During her seven years at the Cultural Fund,  Michelle built trust and transparency with close to 350 Philadelphia-based arts and culture organizations, grew a network of experts for the Fund’s participatory grantmaking practice and formalized feedback to applicants and grantees. Michelle is excited to join the Fels Fund and in her new role as Grants & Operations Manager, she is ready to learn and be of service to the staff, board and grantee community. Michelle is an avid student of Aikido (the Art of Peace) and is approaching her 8th year of study. When she is not at the office or on the mat, Michelle volunteers, travels, cooks, and is chipping away at the book she someday hopes to publish.

“Trust is to human relationships what faith is to gospel living. It is the beginning place, the foundation upon which more can be built. Where trust is, love can flourish”

— Barbara Smith

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