Michelle Rodriguez, a staff attorney of NELP's Second Chance Labor Project, is the co-author of 65 Million "Need Not Apply": The Case for Reforming Criminal Background Checks for Employment (March 2011). Michelle collaborates with state advocates across the country in their efforts to reduce barriers to employment for people with criminal records and has focused on expanding NELP's presence in California state advocacy. Before joining NELP, Michelle was a Senior Staff Attorney at Public Advocates, a non-profit law firm and advocacy organization that challenges the systemic causes of poverty and racial discrimination. She serves on the board of Common Counsel Foundation and Oakland Asian Cultural Center.