We recently had the chance to connect with Hattie Mitchell and have shared our conversation below.
Hattie, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. When was the last time you felt true joy?
I just celebrated my 40th birthday and felt immense gratitude and joy dancing and spending time with my family and friends.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Hattie Mitchell and I am the founder of Crete Academy a non-profit charter school in South Central Los Angeles aimed at serving families experiencing homelessness. Crete was closed due to non-renewal June 2025 and since then we have pivoted to a private school, serving the same population of students in our same building on 60th Street and Crenshaw. Even more exciting, we have expanded our social services to the community. We now offer medical, dental, mental health, financial support and housing to the broader community. In addition, we have become an official Food Bank with the Los Angeles Food Bank and we serve over 15k pounds of food to over 50o people per week.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My relationship with God has really shaped how I see myself. Growing up in a small town with little options (Turlock, CA) I felt like there was always a bigger world out there, but wasn’t sure how to branch out into it. When I discovered God and learned of the power he gives me, my identity was solidified in Him and no longer in external things.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
When Crete closed and I went through a divorce, I felt like I had two very public, simultaneous failures. By the public’s standards I had failed in my marriage (personal life) and professionally. However, after working through various emotions, owning my story and really embracing the difficult parts of life, I learned how powerful vulnerability is. I used to try to be strong and hide my vulnerability but that was actually a weakness. True strength is standing and falling, failing and succeeding and experiencing equanimity through it all. Understanding that nothing is permanent and not allowing myself to go too far in either direction. I also learned that “failure” isn’t real. It is only failure if that is how I see the situation and in my circumstance, these transitions have been blessings.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Some of the biggest lies the industry tells itself are that you have to compete with others and that there is a limited amount of resources like money and success. The truth is that there is an abundance of all things and as long as we believe in either scarcity or abundance, that is what we will experience.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I am with my children in our home or near any body of water.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.creteacademy.org
- Instagram: hattie.pmitchell
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hattiepearlarrington
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@creteacademy
