When Michael Phillips was 18 years old, he found himself standing in front of a judge after a run-in with the law. The judge gave him a choice: Spend 30 years in prison or go to college. Michael immediately shouted out, “college” and his education changed his life — and now he wants to transform education.

To do so, he’s trying to encourage people to look beyond children as statistics and to acknowledge challenges and trauma through a lens of equity and a heart of empathy. When that happens, we can make some pretty impressive changes. 

Michael is also the author of the upcoming book Wrong Lanes Have Right Turns. We’re chatting all about his background, his writing, and why focusing on marginalized kids is so important in building empathy and overcoming challenges.