Michael Ulibarri

Background

About Michael Ulibarri

Driven by purpose and resilience, I’ve transformed my lived experience with incarceration and growing up in an underserved inner city neighborhood in Salt Lake City, Utah, into a mission: to drive meaningful change across communities, organizations, and the justice system. Having faced the challenges of poverty, incarceration and reentry firsthand, I’m dedicated to dismantling the barriers that hold people back and empowering others to reclaim their stories and potential. While convincing systems, institutions and organizations of the power of lived experience. I am, in every way, a product of community. From my early years in an environment shaped by gangs and crime to the person I am today, I’ve experienced the power of mentorship, opportunity, and the support needed for transformation. My journey is supported by education and leadership training through Goldman Sachs Small Businesses (GS10KSB), NeighborWorks West Side Leadership Institute, Community Leadership Institute, and the National Partners Juvenile Services Leadership Academy. With over a decade of community-building experience, I’ve served as a board member for NeighborWorks Salt Lake and work actively as a mentor and program creator within youth facilities. Through tailored mentorship programs for formerly incarcerated men, I’m committed to helping others recognize their potential and evolve into community leaders and mentors themselves. As the founder and executive director of Access to Excellence, I am deeply committed to social justice, community-led change, and creating pathways toward a more equitable, compassionate system. Every initiative I lead is grounded in empathy, resilience, and the unshakable belief that everyone deserves a second chance. Let’s connect if you’re passionate about justice reform, community building, and the power of mentorship to change lives.