Michael Franklin is the Co-Founder of Speechwriters of Color and Owner of Words Normalize Behavior LLC, a Black and Queer-owned communications and strategic engagement firm dedicated to ensuring your language, strategy, and executive communications are meeting the moment.

A proud graduate of Howard University, Michael has extensive experience crafting communications and digital strategic plans, ghostwriting, and targeted coalition building. Michael has extensive experience in creating and executing projects for leaders across the country from progressive leaders to corporate executives and non-profit leaders.

Michael has a diverse portfolio of success that includes working at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, creating an annual conference dedicated to reaching Black LGBTQ+ people across the nation at Howard University, delivering an internal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) report for Fenway Strategies, and co-founding and leading the Speechwriters of Color national network. He was the inaugural HBCU Speech and Debate League National Champion in both Parliamentary Debate and Extemporaneous Speaking. Additionally, he has been a conference speaker and facilitator at the Ragan Speechwriting and Public Affairs Conference, New American Leaders, the Professional Speechwriters Association World Conference, and more. His words have been quoted in various media outlets including BBC News, Washington Post, LA Times, and more.