Michelle Burton

Dr. Burton is the CEO of Rising Communities, leading efforts for social justice and transformational change. Her activism began at 16 after the 1992 LA Riots, working with Rebuild LA and iconic leaders like Rev. Cecil Murray. She later joined Peace Action, a lobbying group founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.A seasoned community organizer, Dr. Burton has mobilized thousands of volunteers and raised over $100 million for political campaigns and social causes. She has driven change in HIV/AIDS advocacy, youth development, sexual assault prevention, and wellness, helping individuals and organizations advance philanthropic efforts.At Rising Communities, she fosters cross-sector collaboration among CEOs, founders, and influencers to design bold solutions. Her initiatives include Learning for Equity, a program advancing an equity-focused approach to work; the Mothers Rising Guaranteed Basic Income Initiative, providing wraparound support for mothers in South LA; and South LA Decides, a community-led grant-making effort distributing over $1M annually.Dr. Burton holds a BA in Pan African Studies from CSULA, an MBA from Chapman University, and an MA and PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University. She is the proud mother of two adult sons living with Autism and Schizophrenia.