Michael Powers

Background

About Michael Powers

I travel for inspiration, not a perfect tan. I'm a hands-on learner, a solutions-minded thinker, a problem-solver. My background is a melange of neighborhood planning, board bill writing, affordable home construction and festival planning. I love brainstorming and bringing projects to life. Background: Undergraduate studies at Saint Louis University (Urban Affairs/Public Policy), Graduate work in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of New Orleans. Research interests included "main street" revitalization, post-Katrina resiliency planning, public housing policy, transit-oriented development, buy local campaigns and rust-belt rebirth. I started working for the City of St. Louis Office of Neighborhood Stabilization in 2010 having worked on issues around urban decline, planning, poverty and public policy-a journey that included a Mayoral appointment to the New Orleans Planning Commission and a term of service as a White House Intern in the Office of Urban Affairs under the Obama administration. After a term with LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) in D.C, I moved back to the Midwest to work for the city's Neighborhood Stabilization Team, with the goal of improving quality of life in the Penrose and O'Fallon neighborhoods of north St. Louis. I oversaw efficient delivery of neighborhood services and built capacity within community groups. I helped create a neighborhood redevelopment plan with a university partner and worked with area residents to improve public safety in innovative ways. We cleaned alleys and hosted holiday potlucks. Engaged young people on parole and built community-unifying events, think festivals and resource fairs. In ‘12 I was appointed Legislative Director to the President the Board of Aldermen. In that role I authored board bills, created community-based programs, analyzed budgets, held board seats, built websites / social content, created communications strategies, assisted non-profit enterprises, leveraged resources and developed policy solutions through stakeholder engagement. These days I’m focused most on place-based community & economic development as Real Estate Development Manager for Habitat for Humanity, some of my own small-scale historic rehabs and developer tax credit consulting. In my “spare time” I produce festivals (Tower Grove Pride, Rosé Day, Made with Pride @ City Foundry) — and The Pizza Passport, an e-commerce product that encourages locals to explore their region one pizza at a time. I love my family, pit bulls and old cities. Love connecting with people who #gsd!