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.

  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.

  • Launching Golden Girls Global
  • 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.

   

  Awards

  • 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.

   

  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.