Michele Chavez grew up in the community of Glendale, Arizona. As a teen, she was selected to attend the National Conference for Community and Justice’s Anytown, a camp with the mission of fighting bias, bigotry and racism by motivating and training youths to promote understanding and respect among races, religions and cultures in their communities. The experience of Anytown profoundly affected her and has remained with her throughout her life.

Michele has lived in the Antelope Valley since 1992. She has practiced Buddhism in one form or another since 1984. In 2000, she joined the Interfaith Council, representing a local Buddhist group. She now represents the Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of the Antelope Valley.

An avid cyclist, Michele seeks to improve the liveability of her community through participating in the development of local and county bicycle plans. On a personal level, she rides not just for recreation and fitness but primarily for transportation and to fight climate change.

She is a member of the High Desert Cyclists, the Antelope Valley Bicycle Coalition, a regional chapter of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, and rides recreationally with Bicycle John’s Caffe Racers.