Michelle Horne-Findley, LMSW, SIFI, MS, has always understood healing as something that reaches beyond a professional role. It is woven into how she connects with people, advocates, and approaches her work in mental health and the justice system. Whether she is supporting someone through a difficult moment, speaking up for change, or helping create access to care, Michelle remains focused on making sure people feel seen, heard, and treated with dignity. That same sense of care has shaped a career that brings together mental health, forensic social work, community advocacy, lobbying, and public speaking.

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“I have learned that when I move forward in the work of healing, I have to remain connected to my spirituality,” Michelle shares. “For me, spirituality is what reminds me that this work is bigger than me. It keeps me grounded in compassion and reminds me why I began.”

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Spirituality has remained an important part of the way Michelle moves through both her personal and professional life. Her work has taken her into spaces where people are dealing with trauma, mental health concerns, justice involvement, financial hardship, and systems that can often feel difficult to navigate. Rather than separating those realities from the person experiencing them, Michelle believes it is important to understand the full picture of someone’s life and to approach that person with respect, patience, and compassion.

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Her professional journey has continued to grow across mental health, social justice, education, advocacy, and systems reform. Michelle is a member of the Coro Leadership New York LNY43 Cohort for 2025–2026 and was recognized as a 2025 Manhattan Power Woman by Schneps Media. While those accomplishments reflect her work, they also speak to the path she has continued to build around service, leadership, and creating opportunities for people whose concerns are too often overlooked.

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