During Michelle Luellen's first year working at Circulate San Diego, she has done everything from conducting community walks in Spanish to co-authoring a strategic planning report for the organization. As a Project Coordinator, Michelle's work includes promoting walking and biking from Chula Vista to Carlsbad while also writing Safe Routes to School outreach and activity plans for San Ysidro and Lemon Grove.
Working to improve conditions and opportunities for those in low income communities is integral to what drives Michelle, who taught in an alternative public school when she lived in Chicago. Michelle learned to pay it forward from a young age and has worked her whole life to make the world and her community better places for everyone. "Michelle brings such a valuable skill set to our organization," said Jim Stone, Circulate San Diego's Executive Director, "she understands what it takes to connect with communities and get people involved to make a difference in their neighborhood. She’s a real change agent."
Michelle's son, Cyrus, and husband, Cesar work on a mural project
Her day does not end, however, when she has finished her latest bike rodeo. Michelle is also completing her graduate degree in Non-Profit Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego while also raising an adorable son named Cyrus with her husband, Cesar. Before joining Circulate, Michelle received a scholarship from the San Diego Bicycle Coalition to become a League Cycling Instructor because of her leadership organizing bike rides in low income communities, while she was six months pregnant!
Even though Michelle has only been a Project Coordinator for a year with Circulate San Diego, her compassion, smarts, and experience make her a true mentor and friend to the whole Circulate staff.
