Nashon T. Mitchell is running for the Antelope Valley Community College Governing Board Area 4 seat in the Nov. 3 general election. Michael R. Adams is also running in the nonpartisan race.

Mitchell, a workforce development specialist according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk candidate list, said her guiding question as a trustee would be how each decision helps students succeed. That question drives her platform.

Candidate information

  • Party: Nonpartisan
  • Occupation: Workforce development specialist
  • Education: Mitchell says she holds a bachelor of science in sociology from Cal Poly Pomona
  • Community role: Mitchell describes herself as a returning adult student and mother

Experience and public service

Mitchell says she is the founder and president of Sole of the CommUNITY Inc., a nonprofit. She says she has served as an elected delegate to the Los Angeles Democratic Party for the 39th Assembly District and as a California Democratic Party Black Caucus member.

Mitchell also describes herself as a former foster youth mentoring coordinator.

On the issues

Student support and college completion

Mitchell says the board should focus on making sure students can finish what they start. She lists specific needs she wants the board to address, according to her campaign Instagram account on Aug. 23:

  • Complete degree and certificate pathways, so students have a clear route from enrollment to graduation
  • Career training tied to job readiness
  • Dependable counseling to help students stay on track toward completing their programs
  • Childcare for student parents balancing school and family
  • Transportation assistance to reduce barriers to attending class
  • Mental-health support as part of overall student well-being
  • Basic-needs resources closer to home, so students do not have to travel far for help

Mitchell says her approach as a trustee would filter every board decision through one question: whether it helps students succeed. Her campaign slogan is "Students First. Success Always."

Mitchell says students need these services and supports closer to home.

Candidate responses were gathered from Mitchell's public campaign materials and social media. The Pasadena Ledger did not interview the candidate for this profile. Voters can learn more about all candidates on the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder website.