Today we’d like to introduce you to Hattie Mitchell.
Hi Hattie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in a Central Valley where there are very few black families. I believe we were one of five. Growing up, I didn’t see a lot of unhoused people where I lived, but when I did see someone outside, it made me feel really sad. I was told by my mom and dad that at a very young age, as young as 5 years old, I was concerned for people that were unhoused and always wanted to help them. I think I felt like they were being dealt an injustice from a county that has so many resources. Once I attended college in Los Angeles and experienced the depths of the homeless crisis, I knew then I wanted to do something. I used to drive around in my car with old blankets and hand them out to anyone who looked cold. Then, I joined a college group, and we decided to volunteer downtown on Skid Row. The day that I chose to volunteer downtown changed my life forever. I remember serving food in the kitchen at Union Rescue Mission, and I walked outside to look around. There were hundreds of people living in tents and boxes, trash in the street, people pushing shopping carts with junk piled up, and drugs and open prostitution. Then, as I looked around downtown LA, I noticed to my right, just in front of me a baby girl crawling around on the sidewalk. I remember thinking to myself, “There must be so much unlocked potential in that little girl, but because she doesn’t have the resources she needs, she will never realize that potential.” Then I started to think about what could give the girl a chance to dream, and I immediately thought, “a good education.” It was in that moment that I decided to become a teacher, learn about the field of education, and open a school for kids like her.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey to founding and operating a school has not been smooth but it has also not been that difficult either. I spent 13 years learning and preparing for this moment to serve kids who are living in poverty and experiencing homelessness, so I was a tad bit ready. The biggest hurdles are politics and finances. There are too many politicians working against charter schools and kids who are low-income, and there is never enough money to provide everything our kids need to thrive.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an educator with a public policy lens, specializing in serving kids who are unhoused and living in poverty. I am also a professor at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy. I am known for educating kids in the community and being a mother to my own four kids. As I mentioned previously, I grew up in the Central Valley, around a lot of farmers. In addition, my great-grandfather was the last sharecropper on my dad’s side, and my mother’s parents were both immigrants. From a very young age, hard work, discipline, and hustling were instilled in me. My self-discipline and hard work have set me apart from others.
Any big plans?
For the future I will always be a part of Crete and Crete a part of me. My goal is to create a replicable model for serving the unhoused population throughout the country. I want to influence education policy through our work at Crete. Additionally, I want to do some other things too, such as write more speeches and start more programs for the black community. I also want to spend a lot of time with my kids and elevate their dreams.
Contact Info:
- Website: Creteacademy.org
- Instagram: @crete_academy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreteAcademy
- Twitter: @CreteAcademy
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/crete-academy-los-angeles
