Mitchelle Woodson (’15) was recently named Executive Director and Managing Attorney of Think Dignity. Think Dignity (www.thinkdignity.org) is a local homeless advocacy agency with a mission to inspire, empower and organize the San Diego community to advance basic dignity to those living on the streets. She first joined the organization as the Staff Attorney for the Homeless Youth Legal and Advocacy Project. While at TJSL, Woodson participated in PILF, the CLIMB Mentoring program, and the Clean Slate Clinic. She credits the Veterans Clinic as providing her with important first-hand experience in advocating for San Diego's homeless population. She said that “I have always had a passion for social justice and knew that my career path would be in the public sector advocating for underrepresented communities.”
Woodson recently hired Christine Lopez (’19) as the Volunteer and Resource Coordinator. As Woodson explains, “Christine was a policy and legal research intern with Think Dignity during her last semester in law school. She was an excellent addition to our team and was pivotal in the success of our first ever career and resource fair.” The two remained in touch and “when a new position opened up she was the first person that came to mind.”
In summarizing her career so far, Woodson says that, “I cannot underscore enough how fortunate I feel to have been catapulted into a career where I feel, and know, that I am contributing to leaving a better world behind. I am inspired by the people that we serve, who, despite their circumstances, manage to be a beacon of hope, smile, and remind us of the small moments that create lasting change. I am inspired by the power in our community and the magic that happens when you believe in doing good for people.”