About Melissa

Melissa Michaels, Ed. D.
P.O. Box 7478, Boulder, CO 80306
www.goldenbridge.org | 303-415-0272

Education

• The Fielding Graduate University, Ed.D., Education Leadership and Change, 2006.
• University of Colorado, B.S., Environmental Design, Graduated with Honors, 1983.

Certifications

• Registered Somatic Movement Educator (RSME) and Registered Somatic Movement Therapist (RSMT), ISMETA, 2009.
• Spiritual Ministry Ordination with Rev. Ron Roth, Full Life Fellowship, 2002.
• Certified Coming of Age Educator, Menstrual Health Foundation and Institute for Renewal of Modern Culture, 1997.
• Certified Pre & Perinatal Fitness Educator, Women’s Health Fitness, DPT™, 1995.
• Certified Movement Educator / First Generation Teacher of 5Rhythms®, 1992.

Awards

• Fielding Graduate University ISI Award for Social Innovation, 2022.
• Multiple film awards for TWISTED GIFT.
• eTown eChievement Award, 2016.
• Fielding Graduate University Fellowship in Social Innovation, 2013/2014.
• Colorado Dance Alliance: Service to the Field Award, 2006.
• Colorado School Mediation Project: Peacebuilder of the Year Nominee, 2001.
• University of Colorado: Dana Giffen Soper Memorial Scholarship Award, 1982.

Expertise and Areas of Interest

• Somatic, Social Justice, and Soul-centric Education
• Rites of Passage
• Peace Leadership from the Soma, to the Soul, to Service
• Youth and Human Development
• Global Woman’s Life Cycles and Transitions
• Universal Languages of Dance, Music, Writing, and Theater

Professional Experience

Founder and Director of Golden Bridge, 501c-3, 2006–Present and Melissa Michaels Movement, LLC. 1990–Present.

• Trained and certified second cohort of SomaSource Leaders.
• Launched Moving Through Life’s Thresholds: Pathways for Embodied Living and Leading.
• Taught mini-course, Movement in Education within Harvard University Masters of Education program.
• Founded Golden Girls Global: International Alliance serving she/they who are navigating through puberty and adolescence.
• Presented at Embodied Movement, Embodied Consciousness, and Collective Trauma Summits.
• Produced TWISTED GIFT (Twisted Gift) award winning film short about Melissa’s resilience through late stage ovarian cancer into health.
• Developed and taught STOP, Somatic Transforming Oppression Process with diverse leaders from around the world.
• Created annual theater productions, Creative Liberation, with leaders from around the world.
• Developed and taught Body Centered Life Cycle Trainings for educators, therapists, youth workers, parents, and spiritual leaders.
• Certified first generation of SomaSource Life Cycle Practitioners, 2017.
• Produced Surfing The Creative Film Short (Golden Bridge Presents: Surfing The Creative Film Short).
• Co-Produced Youth, Truth & Talent Film Short (Golden Bridge Presents: Youth, Truth & Talent Film Short).
• Co-Produced Pictures of the Possible Film Shorts (Pictures of the Possible Videos).
• Developed and taught SomaSource body-centered transformational programs to thousands of people in numerous life cycles, including pregnant and post-partum families, children K–12, youth leaders in their 20’s, and adults into old age.
• Developed and taught Shakti Sisterhood programs empowering hundreds of diverse women around the world throughout the life cycle.
• Developed and taught Positive Choices programs for middle and high schools.
• Produced Music CD and Experiential Video/DVD for families in the birthing cycle of life: Dance of Birth.
• Designed and led student exchange programs taking students to New Zealand, South India, Brazil, Argentina, China, Australia, and South Africa.
• Designed and implemented Surfing The Creative International Rites of Passage Program – Conducted over 25 times, 1 year, 5 week, and 2 week intensives.
• Mentored and collaborated with 200+ faculty, including somatic educators and therapists, peace leaders, youth leaders, and related professionals.
• Directed youth performances focused on the arts, community and healing.
• Conducted Movement Masses in four countries for thousands of people.

Additional Public Presentations Conducted

SomaSource Body/Spirit/Human Development Presentations and Workshops

• Online Conference Presenter: One Dance Tribe: 2020. International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association: 2021. International Conscious Movement Teacher’s Association: 2021.
• Interfaith Conference: Coming Together through Contemplative Practices and Dialogue 2017: Colorado College.
• United Nations Youth Assembly 2014: Keynote Youth, Truth & Action. (Video: Melissa Michaels Presenting at the United Nations )
• Universities including: Colorado College, Fielding Graduate University, Naropa University, Pitzer, University of Beijing, and Prescott College.
• Trainings with Diverse Women, Youth, & Educators: South Africa, Madagascar, Kenya, New Zealand, South India, and Uganda.
• CIYOTA Conference with Hutu and Tutsi Refugees Building a Peace Movement Pan-Africa: Uganda.
• Emerging Women: Changing the World through Feminine Leadership and Entrepreneurship: Movement Mass ~ Boulder, Colorado, 2013.
• NROPI Youth and Community Building Conference: Creative Process and Rites of Passage ~ Baltimore, Maryland, 2013.
• IgniteGood Huffington Post Initiative for Millennial Entrepreneurs: Movement Leadership ~ New York City, New York, 2013.
• Body Mind Centering Annual Conference: Threshold Dancing ~ Boulder, Colorado, 2013.
• Unites States Association for Body Psychology Annual Conference: Threshold Dancing ~ Boulder, Colorado, 2012.
• Fielding Graduate University: Embodied Leadership Workshop ~ Alexandria, Virginia, 2012.
• Courageous Women, Fearless Women Retreat for Women Touched by Cancer ~ Shambhala Mountain Center, Colorado, 2011 & 2012.
• Life and Death Matters: The Dance of Life ~ Boulder, Colorado, 2011.
• Naropa University: Pathways Towards Peace ~ Boulder, Colorado, 2012, 2011, 2006, 2005.
• The Erotic: Exploring Critical Issues ~ Salzburg, Austria, 2009.
• Co-Founded Global Passageways Rites of Passage Initiative ~ 2008 (Now Youth Passageways)
• Tui Community ~ Aotearoa, New Zealand, 2009, 2005, and 2004.
• Prescott College: Master’s Colloquium & Expressive Arts Therapy Institute ~ Prescott, Arizona, 2008, 2009.
• Peace Jam: A Call to Action ~ Denver, CO, 2009.
• Aotearoa and Australian Creative and Art Therapy Associations: Arts Therapy Symposium ~ Auckland, New Zealand, 2008
• Institute of Noetic Sciences: AUM Conference ~ San Rafael, CA, 2007.
• California School of Integral Studies ~ San Francisco, CA, 2007.
• Auroville Community ~ Tamil Nadu, South India,
• Whole Family, Whole Child Conference ~ Fair Oaks, CA (Keynote), 2004.
• Passageways Institute ~ Boulder, CO, 2002.
• Dance Therapy Association ~ Denver, CO, 2002.
• Colorado School Mediation Project: Peace Leadership Conference ~ Denver, CO, 2002, 2001.
• Women’s Theological Center ~ Boston, MA, 2001.
• Safehouse: Art Triumphs Over Domestic Violence ~ Boulder, CO, 2001.
• Girl Scouts of America ~ Boulder, CO, 2001.
• Spirit and Action: International Youth Conference ~ Santa Cruz, CA, 1999.
• Association of Pre and Perinatal Congress ~ San Francisco, CA, 1999, 1997.
• Colorado Dance Festival ~ Boulder, CO, 1999.
• Shining Mountain Waldorf School ~ Boulder, CO, 2000, 1998, 1997.

Additional Employment

• Co-Founder, Global Passageways: Coming of Age in the 21st Century ~ 2008.
• Director, After School Program, Friends School ~ Boulder, CO, 1991–1992.
• Director, Small World Summer Camps ~ Boulder, CO, 1989, 1988.
• Research Assistant, Dr. Elise Boulding, University of Colorado ~ Boulder, CO, 1985–1986.

Associations, Memberships, and Affiliations

• Auroville International, USA
• American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD)
• International Conscious Movement Teachers Association (ICMTA)
• Dance and The Child International (daCi)
• International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA)
• International Somatic Movement and Therapy Association (ISMETA)
• National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)
• National Rites of Passage Institute (NROPI): Strategic Partner
• StarHouse ~ All Seasons Chalice (ASC)
• United States Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP)
• Youth Passageways

Educational Publications and Creative Products

• Book, “Youth On Fire: Birthing a Generation of Embodied Global Leaders,” Golden Bridge Press, Boulder, CO. 2017. Youth On Fire
• CD, “IGNITE, A Moving Rites of Passage Journey,” Co-created by Melissa Michaels & the Golden Bridge Rhythm Keepers, 2016.
• Article in Black Child Journal. Arts and the Black Child. Spring 2014.
• Article, “Birthing Embodied Global Leaders,” in Conscious Dancer Magazine. Winter 2013.
• Forward, “Motherhood: A great big give away ceremony,” Fearless Nest. 2010.
• Paper, “Youth: Self, Sex, and Spirit,” in The Erotic: Exploring Critical Issues, Inter–Disciplinary.Net, 2009.
• Chapter, “Dancing For Our Lives,” in Finding the Flow: True Stories of Finding Strength and Healing Through Adversity, New Page, Ltd., New Zealand, 2006.
• Interview in Diamonds, Pearl & Stones: Jewels of Wisdom for Young Women from Extraordinary Women of the World, Health Communications, Inc., 2004.
• Article, “Navigating The Edge From Center: International Youth Work,” in Evolve, Auroville International, Winter 2003/2004.
• Article, “Surfing The Creative Edge with Youth,” in Wild Heart Journal: Art, Creativity & Spiritual Life. Volume 6, Issue 2, 2003.
• Video, “The Dance of Birth, An Invitation to Move with Melissa Michaels & Friends,” Wild Life Productions, LLC., 1999.
• CD, “Birth, A Moving Journey From the Longing of the Spirit to the Ecstasy of the Ordinary,” Wild Life Productions, LLC., 1997.

Selected Youth Initiatives Mentored

• African Lions: Youth arts program with and for youth living in the townships, Durban, South Africa.
• Mohanam Project: Cultural Center for children in the villages focused on the interface between traditional and modern, Kottakarai, South India.
• Women’s Fertility Educational Programs: Providing youth and adults information about their creative cycles, healthy sexual practices, and self-care in general, Boulder, Colorado.
• Voice Of Youth: International Music and Arts Tour bringing the sounds and practices of positive creative expression to youth across the globe, India and New Zealand.
• Positive Hip Hop: Positive Youth Development: Self-discovery and empowerment groups and classes serving young women from diverse cultures, Boulder, Colorado.
• The Hermanito Project: A project to raise funds for and awareness about the needs of at-risk Latino young men, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Personal

• I adore parenting my 3 daughters ~ one in a doctoral program in Clinical Psychology, one a bilingual Social Worker serving women and girls around the world, and one an embodied astrologer and somatic educator and artist ~ as well as my 3 bonus-children, my 7 grandchildren, and all of their contemporaries.
• I am committed to bringing people together for body-centered transformational experiences and dialogues from diverse cultures, ages, classes, races, tribes, abilities, religions, and countries.
• I am a dancer, trained in the 5Rhythms®, Pilates, Mime, Eurythmy, Yoga, Tai Chi, African Dance, Sacred Dance, and Ritual Theatre.

References

• Professional and Personal References are available upon request.