Michael Nicolas Okinczyc-Cruz
Preferred pronouns:
he/him
Areas of expertise:
Community Organizing
Leadership in Social Justice Organizations
Catholic Social Teaching & Ethics
Contact Information:
Email: michael@csplaction.org
Title: Executive Director
Who Am I:
Michael Okinczyc-Cruz is the Executive Director and a co-founder of the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL). As a community organizer he has worked alongside grassroots community leaders to address systemic inequities that advance justice through ambitious community-led solutions over the past 12 years on a local, statewide and national level. He has trained thousands of leaders across the country on the methodologies of faith-rooted community organizing.
He is also an adjunct professor at the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University of Chicago where he periodically teaches courses on Catholic Social Teaching, Christian Ethics and Leadership in Social Justice Organizations, and Kingian and Gandhian nonviolence.
Michael possesses a BA from the University of California, Berkeley, a Master’s in Theology from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and a Doctorate of Ministry with a concentration in Latina/o studies from Fordham University. Michael’s maternal grandparents are from Guanajuato, Mexico and his father is a refugee from Poland. Michael lives in Chicago with his wife.
Off the clock:
Michael is often found biking along the lakefront, spending time with his dog, Arthur, and gardening.
Education:
Doctorate of Ministry with a concentration in Latina/o studies from Fordham University
Masters in Theology at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
Bachelor of Arts at University of California, Berkeley
