Memoir

Michelle Chiodi is the author of Prairie Burn, a fire-breathing memoir that traces her journey growing up as an only child in a neighborhood lined with bars and poverty. Raised by a devoted mother and ignored by a father who preferred the company of pole dancers, she learned to be resourceful and resilient.

A lifelong student of change, Chiodi has focused her professional career on helping people and organizations grow and overcome obstacles by launching new solutions, coaching and training teams, and helping to create more inclusive workplaces. She is a curious traveler and a passionate advocate for connection with community, nature, perspective, and growth. Her work and writing reflect a deep belief: that when we recognize our gifts, explore them, and share them with others, positive change becomes possible—for ourselves and the world around us. Chiodi lives in a conservation community in the Chicago area with her husband Marcelo and their three daughters Miyana, Malena, and Mirabella.

Prairie Burn is a powerful testament to the unexpected ways strangers can save us, perspective provides understanding, and how the communities we create and appreciate, can shape us. Chiodi’s memoir is one of growth and transformation; finding momentum through hard work, hope through education, and connections through communities.