Michael Shostek is a Community and Economic Development Program Coordinator at the Urban Affairs Coalition (UAC). At UAC, Michael focuses on two national initiatives that promote more sustainable, affordable homeownership opportunities for underserved communities, especially minorities and low-to-moderate income Philadelphians.
Prior to UAC, Michael supported the advocacy for many unheard, underserved, and marginalized communities as a paralegal. First by supporting victims of heinous, violent crimes in criminal justice cases at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Thereafter, as an inaugural employee at Elias Law Group, advancing voting rights and redistricting litigation to protect democracy and the intrinsic right to vote. The latter’s work included editorial and administrative support on behalf of voters in the landmark Allen v. Milligan decision, in which the United States Supreme Court ruled Alabama’s redistricting maps violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and discriminate against Black Alabamians.
Michael also serves as a teaching assistant and course coordinator for a lecturer in the Legal Studies and Business Ethics Department at the University of Pennsylvania. This graduate-level course currently focuses on understanding the relationships among non-profit institutions, businesses, and governments in solving sustainability issues such as climate change.
An active volunteer for Scouting America, Michael supports leadership development, training, communications, and environmental sustainability opportunities for youth across the country. In his free time, he enjoys TV, film, his friends & family, and spending time in the outdoors.
Michael holds a MPA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government and a BA in Environmental Health Policy with a Minor in Cinema Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.
