At 20 years old, Michael has already lived several lifetimes’ worth of experiences — and he’s just getting started.

Born in Kankakee, raised in Mississippi, and now calling Chicago home, Michael arrived in the city the way many young people do: through a combination of necessity and hope. After a difficult period of homelessness, he found his way to The Night Ministry’s Crib shelter, where he describes his experience as genuinely life-changing.

“They want to see us succeed,” he says simply. “But we can only succeed if we put in the work.”

Michael has taken those words seriously. This fall, he’ll begin studying to become an EMT at Malcolm X College — a career choice that reflects both ambition and a deep desire to give back.

“It’s something that helps the community, especially the homeless community,” he explains. “I want to help others.”

That instinct to help runs through everything Michael does. He’s been known to stop and check on younger people he sees struggling on the streets, connecting them with resources like The Streetlight app and services at Harold Washington Library. He’s also an active member of Youth 4 Truth, the Night Ministry’s youth advocacy committee, where he lends his voice to conversations about homelessness, gun violence, and the environment.

Michael describes The Crib as “a pit stop” — not a destination, but a foundation from which to build something better. One day, he hopes to take that drive all the way to City Hall — he has his eye on becoming Mayor of Chicago.

“I’m a living, walking miracle,” he says, leaning heavily on his faith and the belief that divine intervention has kept him alive despite some serious setbacks.

His advice to other young people navigating similar struggles is characteristically direct: “Never give up. Only you can make it happen.”