Michael Christopher
Michael J Christopher
Founder/CEO, Michael J. Christopher Foundation, Inc. A 501 c3 Organization
Located in Los Angeles, California
Founder and CEO Michael J. Christopher is a professional Photographer. Born in 1955 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Michael possess fifty-five-year-old memories of working on an Orange Grove Plantation, just off the banks of the Mississippi River. These memories are laced with stories shared by his mother, trickled down from his great-great grandmother.
Four maternal generations preceded him working that plantation, up until the late 1940s. They told of days spent picking cotton and sugarcane under the scorching sun in dangerously humid temperatures. It was stories like these (and others) that first piqued Michael’s interest in studying African American heritage, and slave history from around the world. While the selfless giver today enjoys pastimes of travel, and world history research, his photographic journey of curiosity, began with those generational narratives.
Michael began his studies in photography at Los Angeles City College and Otis Persons Institute in 1985. Some of his experiences included working with National Geographic, Shutterbug Photography, as well his own pursuit of freelance photojournalism. He has been featured in numerous publications and has provided professional photographic services for Stevie Wonder and Five Star. He is also one of the pioneers of music videos, he produced one of the first music videos for Nina Simone in 1982.
Never losing sight of his spiritual roots, he has also produced various Christian ministry productions throughout the Los Angeles area. The seasoned professional has even collaborated with the Media Production Department of UCLA to instruct internships in film production, as well as a serving as a strategist for the USC Poland Project.
Travel across the globe has afforded Michael the opportunity to photograph exotic scenes and record history in destinations such as Belize, Panama, Guatemala, Senegal, Germany, Tahiti, New Zealand, China, Turkey, and many others. It was during a trip to Haiti after the massive earthquake in 2010, (which left the country devastated) that Michael was led to create the Michael J Christopher Foundation, Inc. 501c3. This provided him a path to helping the displaced children. Michael taught these children trades in multimedia production and photography as well as providing support and comfort where possible. This only inspired him to do more. After producing educational films such as The Biography of Haiti and Black Roots in Mexico, the caring philanthropist made it the organization’s mission to reach as many orphaned children across the world as possible, to provide a better future through education.
The foundation has since partnered with many organizations in Port Au Prince, Haiti, Cairo Egypt, Australia, and Madagascar to focus on providing educational workshops to their underprivileged as well.
It is now Michael’s vision and goal, through the framework of his foundation to expand these same programs to local communities throughout Southern California. Michael’s regard for the wellbeing of the less fortunate is woven into the fabric of the Michael J Christopher Foundation as stated “As one learns Knowledge, pass it on” this is the foundations Mission Statement.
In November of 2019, the Michael J Christopher Foundation continued it's outreach program to Australia. Michael personally visited a number Aboriginal villages, bringing hygiene, and school supplies to disadvantaged children in the Outback of Alice Springs, Australia located in the Red Centre of the Northern Territory.
The Foundation worked in partnership with the New South Wales, Child Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation (AbSec) in March and donated backpacks filed with educational materials and hygiene supplies to children in Sydney, Australia.
The Michael J Christopher Foundation and (AbSec) are working to achieve a fairer, more equal Australia, where each and every child can grow up with every opportunity for health, happiness and success.
