Michael Urbanski

Michael is a Co-founder and the Executive Vice President of Hopeful Horizons. He is a junior studying Cell Biology and Physiology. He enjoys playing chess, watching sports, and cooking in his spare time. He helped establish Hopeful Horizons after returning to SLU after helping Ukrainian refugees and their children in the wake of the war in eastern Europe. There were many children that found themselves in broken families due to the war, and he saw how much simple acts of kindness and compassion were able to uplift them and brighten their spirits. Michael made an effort to come in and spend time with them as much as he could to help restore some semblance of a childhood and normalcy during their stay at the refugee shelter. While thankfully there is no war in the USA, he realized children still find themselves displaced in our own community of St. Louis, so he felt compelled to drive change and help them in a similar way. Hopeful Horizons, in his eyes, embarks on a mission of providing enrichment and exploration for the displaced children of our community. Through Hopeful Horizons, he wants to guide children through tumultuous times and be a constant supporter amidst much uncertainty. Whether it’s reading a book with them, playing kickball on a break, or taking a crack at his artistic skills alongside them, he wants to show companionship and guidance in any way he can. Michael hopes that by doing this, they can better develop new skills and ideas about their passions and talents.