Turning Personal Experience Into Public Action

What happens when years of community organizing—and firsthand experience with workplace injustice—turn into a mission for public office? In this episode of the Care Sandwich Podcast, we sit down with Michelle “Michi” Sanchez, a longtime Georgia community organizer, workers’ rights advocate, and candidate for Georgia Labor Commissioner. Michi shares her journey from grassroots organizing and coalition building to advocating for stronger protections for Georgia workers. She discusses her personal experiences with wage theft and worker misclassification, why she believes gaps in workplace protections need greater attention, and how those experiences helped shape her decision to run for office. The conversation also explores what wage theft can look like—from unpaid overtime and off-the-clock work to workers not receiving their wages at all—and Michi’s ideas for improving employer accountability and educating workers about their rights. For attorneys and law firm leaders, Michi also explains how stronger documentation and enforcement could help employment attorneys identify patterns of workplace violations and better advocate for workers. In this episode, you’ll hear about: • Michi’s 10+ years of community organizing across Georgia • The personal experiences that inspired her campaign • What wage theft can look like in the workplace • Worker misclassification and employer accountability • Why educating employees about their rights matters • How labor enforcement can intersect with the legal community • Building coalitions and creating change through grassroots organizing Whether you’re a business owner, attorney, community leader, worker advocate, or someone interested in workers’ rights and Georgia politics, this conversation offers a personal look at the issues affecting working families and the people seeking to address them. 🎙️ Tune in to hear Michi Sanchez’s story and her vision for protecting Georgia workers.