Michael Cooper

Senior Director of Advocacy, NC Child

Raleigh, North Carolina

Michael Cooper is the senior director of advocacy at NC Child, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for policies that improve economic security and health for children in North Carolina. Michael grew up in the small town of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and he has dedicated his law practice to battling the opioid crisis and promoting local economic development across Appalachia. Michael launched NC Child’s Youth Advocacy Council which uses storytelling for policy advocacy to address the youth mental health crisis. He has built common ground across diverse views through his work as a defense attorney and in leading broad-based coalitions to launch the first recovery center in his county. Michael uses his first-hand experience at the intersection of rising polarization and rural economic inequality to inform his leadership.