Meet Our Team

Why I Am, founded and led by Executive Director, Mario Gonzalez-Mitchell, solidifies the legacy built by his father, Jim, to help youth and young adults grow into positive and healthy members of our community.
Mario was born and raised in St. Paul, MN where he and his family currently reside. Mario’s passion for youth and young adult development began over 20 years ago. He has worked for youth serving organizations such as Ramsey County Boys Totem Town, St. Joseph’s Home for Children, Union Gospel Mission TC, and St. Paul’s Community Ambassador street outreach Initiative. He has facilitated youth programs such as Treehouse and The Manup Club. Mario also volunteers at a local food shelf, adult correctional facility, and re-entry homes, bringing hope to those incarcerated and helping slow down the overwhelming recidivism rate.
Mario enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Angel, and their two young sons, physical fitness, archery, being outdoors, and is an avid fisherman.

Being true to her name, Angel has a heart of gold! She has always had a desire and strong passion to help others in need. After graduating from Bethel University with a Bachelors degree in Social Work, she began gaining work experience in the hospital, a nursing facility, and for the past 22 years she has worked for Ramsey County as a supervisor, case manager, and assessor for aging and disability services. She is also a graduate of Ramsey County’s prestigious Leadership Academy.
Angel embodies servant leadership. She was a volunteer youth leader for 7 years at a South Minneapolis non-profit, has been on several missions’ trips to Mexico, and successfully led a women’s workout / support group for 3 years.
In her free time, Angel enjoys spending quality time with the love of her life, Mario, and their two sons. Gardening, fishing, and biking are some of her hobbies. One of Angel’s favorite quotes is:
“EVERYDAY IS A NEW BEGINNING”

As a motivated, personable, and educational professional, Jim has had a successful 25-year track record working with youth and young adults. Ramsey County’s Boys Totem Town, St. Paul Public Schools, and the St. Paul Community Ambassador Initiative is where he gained his experience working with high-risk youth and young adult populations, including those with learning and behavioral challenges. He has a unique and uncanny ability to direct and re-direct young people in a way that encourages them to choose positive behaviors, thereby minimizing consequences.
Jim is a graduate of Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota, and he currently resides in St. Paul with his wife, Juliet (Ms. J).
“I appreciate the positivity that our team brings to this work. I know that positive feedback and encouragement, especially to young people, serves to inspire and motivate them toward personal growth and development. As a member of this team, I can continue my life work of serving young people along with the caring adults in their lives”

Having volunteered with youth serving-organizations most of her teen and adult life, Ms. J began her formal training and consulting work with youth and adults in 2001.
With 12 years of direct service with youth-serving organizations, she is lauded as being a servant leader. Whether teaching table manners to 6-year-olds or dining etiquette to seasoned professionals, Ms. J treats all her clients with dignity and respect.
Ms. J, Etiquette & Professional Development Consultant, Speaker, Author and President and CEO of Life Etiquette Institute, has earned a Master of Arts Degree in Human Development, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She also maintains an etiquette license and certification with the Emily Post Business Etiquette Institute. Her experience also includes over 20 years in the corporate environment, and over 9 years as an instructor of higher education.
Ms. J, author of Social Education and Life Etiquette(SELE). She is a columnist for the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, Life Etiquette According to Ms. J, and her advice has appeared in the Huff Post, Minneapolis Star Tribune and WCCO-TV.

Dr. Tamara Mattison is the Assistant Divisional Social Service Director at the Salvation Army Northern Division and owner and principal consultant for Generation 2 Generation, Inc. In 2014 she opened the first Safe Harbor Shelter for girls ages 12-17 who were victims of sex trafficking and exploitation for 180 Degree’s a non-profit organization.
She is an exceptional non-profit leader and community engagement professional. She is a voice for the disadvantaged, marginalized, underrepresented, and voiceless individuals. Dr Mattison is Restorative Practices trainer and facilitator for the Minnesota Department of Education working with multiple school districts in Minnesota.
Dr. Mattison has worked with diverse populations over the past twenty-five years including youth and families in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Public Schools and Charter Schools, Area Learning Centers, Community Organizations such as Model Cities, Boys Totem Town, Girls in Action, Faith Communities, Ramsey County Juvenile Corrections, Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, and City of St Paul Attorney’s Office. Dr. Mattison is the secretary of African American Leadership Council in St Paul, MN.

Mario Gonzalez-Mitchell