Michelle Cruz

Michelle is a policy strategist, arts and veterans’ advocate, and award-winning jazz vocalist who blends creativity with civic impact. At the Harvard Kennedy School, she served as co-chair of the Arts & Culture Policy Design Council, co-director of content and strategy for the Black Policy Conference, and was selected for the Harvard to Oval Office program preparing women for public leadership.

Michelle contributed to the implementation of the PACT Act, the largest expansion of veterans’ health care and benefits in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ history. As director of community engagement at Trinity Repertory Company, she is proud to be part of programming that brought thousands of visitors to downtown Providence.

Michelle is excited to serve the economic development and community revitalization of Newport News, a city with a rich history of shipbuilding and the birthplace of her music idol, Ella Fitzgerald.

Initial Fellowship Focus: The fellow will further develop and refine a pathway and actionable strategy that builds upon existing momentum and supports downtown’s revitalization in close partnership with public, private, and community stakeholders.