Michelle Freeman

As a lifelong resident, Michelle is strongly committed to Philadelphia. She dedicates much of her work on creating programs and events that highlight civic-minded people and projects through her company, Witty Gritty. 

Witty Gritty brings communities together and strives to connect people with resources and each other through experiences and engagement. 

Michelle has developed and helped to evolve programs like: Amplify Philly, Urban Consulate, TEDxPhiladelphia, and Flying Kite On the Ground. She also sits on the advisory board of Better Civics, SkatePhilly, Citizens Planning Institute, and Small But Mighty Arts. She is the past Philadelphia Chapter Host for CreativeMornings and a member of the Philadelphia Global Identity Partnership Advisory Board and Leadership Council.

Michelle received the Convenor Award as part of University City Science Center’s Nucleus Awards in 2021. She was named one of Drexel University's "40 Under 40" in 2015 and a top “Keeper and Connector” by Leadership Philadelphia in 2014. She was also named an Emerging Leader by the Philly DoGooder Awards in 2013, received the Emerging Leader Award from the Forum of Executive Women in 2011, and is part of the Economy League’s Greater Philadelphia Leadership Exchange. 

In her free time, Michelle DJs (vinyl only!) and plays bass and sings in grrrl punk band, Thee Glitterbombs. She resides in South Philly with her husband and two cats (Sprocket and Scampi).