Umoja Team. Umoja Strong!

Creating the Space for Healing and Recovery

Umoja Health, Wellness, and Justice Collective is place for community. It takes many voices, hands, and hearts to move the work forward. The core team holds the space and allows community to move in and around, creating moments of connection and healing.

Michael Hayes

CPSS, CHW, Recovery Coach, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Facilitator, Trauma and Resiliency and a Reconnect for Resilience Skills Educator

Founder, Executive Director

Michael Hayes is a visionary leader who blends the art of storytelling with the science of resilience to create meaningful pathways for healing and personal growth. He is the author of the HOPE (Healing Our Past/Personal Experiences) module and is a Certified Peer Support Specialist, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) facilitator, and Reconnect for Resilience Skills Educator.

Michael is the founder of both the Urban Arts Institute and the Umoja HWJ Collective, through which he creates spaces that foster healing, empowerment, and creative expression. His work is rooted in the belief that the arts are a powerful vehicle for transformation and that true healing happens within community.