Michael Adams: He wants to change the narrative of inequity

This is one of 12 finalists for The Herald Business Journal’s annual Emerging Leaders awards for 2022. The winner will be named at an event on April 27.

Michael Adams, 34

Executive director, Change the Narrative Granite Falls

As a teenager, Michael Adams couldn’t understand his father’s lack of success.

“I didn’t understand the nuances of the system my father navigated as a Black man in America,” Adams said.

As an adult, Adams realized how systemic racism and inequities impacted his father’s life.

He began exploring ways to break down barriers for himself and his own son.

A passion for social work led him to a career as a corrections officer in 2008.

“I saw the inequities of the criminal justice system and had a desire to try to the change the system from within,” said Adams.

During his decade-long career, Adams helped convince prison authorities that inmates should be allowed to organize a Juneteenth celebration. The June 19 event, which became a federal holiday last year, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in 2017 from Central Washington University, Adams joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County.

In May 2020, tempers and unrest flared when George Floyd was killed in police custody in Minneapolis.

Adams found himself a target.

“When I was called the N-word the day after George Floyd was murdered, I looked around and saw several people who simply did nothing,” said Adams, a Granite Falls resident since 2018. “I had to push for a day where if that were to happen to my kids or their peers, community members would stand up for them. Or even better, they wouldn’t have to experience a moment like that at all.”

A few days after Floyd’s death, Adams organized Change the Narrative Granite Falls, a nonprofit that promotes race equity, inclusion and justice.

“I simply thought it would be a Facebook group for community discussion,” Adams said. “I wanted to be able to change the world one person at a time through the lens of my immediate world. However, I have learned that through good deeds, intentional conversations and a desire to take action, I am able to impact more than just one person in my immediate space.”

Later that year, Adams organized sign-waving events in Granite Falls in a bid to spark conversation and heal divisions.

His effort drew local attention.

“In Granite Falls, Michael has already emerged as one of our community leaders,” wrote an Emerging Leaders nominator with the Granite Falls School District. “In the past year and a half, our district developed an Equity and Diversity Committee.” Adams’ input was key to organizing the group, the nominator wrote.

“Michael is driven, organized and simply wants to help shape a system that allows every student access to opportunities,” another nominator wrote.

Adams is a member of the Sno-Isle Libraries Board of Trustees, LINC NW and Second Chance Outreach.

“If we as community members can build relationships as friends and neighbors, then we can begin to look past the differences of race, gender, ability, age and more, so that we can truly connect based on character and actions,” Adams said. “There is so much work to be done, and so many good people who can be a part of making an impact.”

Janice Podsada: 425-339-3097; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @JanicePods.

The annual Emerging Leaders award by The Herald Business Journal seeks to highlight and celebrate people who are doing good work in Snohomish County. This year’s partners in the award are HeraldMedia, Leadership Snohomish County, Leadership Launch and Economic Alliance Snohomish County. Co-sponsors are Gaffney Construction, Inflection Wealth Management and the Port of Everett.