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.  She currently serves in the admin role at Why I Am and is part of the Board of Directors. After graduating from Bethel University with a bachelor’s degree in social work, and an AA degree in biblical studies, she began gaining work experience in a hospital setting, nursing facility, and for the past 24+ years she has worked for Ramsey County as a Supervisor, Case Manager, and Assessor. 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 church, 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.

  • Shalonda has dedicated over 25 years to working with families. She earned her Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. Throughout her career, she has prioritized building meaningful relationships, grounded in authenticity, mutual trust, and genuine care for the people she works with. Recently, Shalonda accepted the role of Director of Shelter Operations at People Serving People. Previously, she served as the Director of Education, supporting families with children aged 0-18, and as the Director of Youth & Family Services, serving families with mental health in an effort to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health disorders in both children and adults.

    Shalonda describes her work with families as one of the most invigorating and difficult journeys in her life.  She believes that guiding individuals to move beyond what’s comfortable and enlarge their borders that lead them towards growth and development, can be a challenge if we don’t believe we have the fortitude to maintain our personal definition of success.  While we can’t change the past, she believes we have the power to shape the future. With clear purpose and determination, we can plan and create our own destiny.  Shalonda is a motivational speaker and mentor who is passionate about helping people break unhealthy generational cycles.

  • Stephanie is currently an administrative director, case manager, and life coach for families experiencing homelessness with challenging backgrounds. She has over 24 years of direct related experience working with families and youth in poverty. She has a background in business, money management, accounting, a BA in Human Services and a Master of Nonprofit Management.  

    Stephanie’s calling to support families in making their goals a reality began as a child. Growing up she experienced coming from a different country, abuse, trauma, homelessness, foster care, and family challenges. Stephanie has accomplished breaking her family’s cycle and is an ongoing supporter of both her adult kids’ success. She leads her life with peace, love, and understanding in her home.

    In Stephanie’s home life, she enjoys taking care of her younger sister, who has a disability, spending time hiking with her adult kids, visiting her niece, and visiting her younger brother. She also enjoys music, dancing, anything to do with health, art, different foods, vacationing on tropical beaches, camping, fishing, and adventuring the great outdoors. She always says, “Anything is possible if you want it badly enough and you are willing to practice consistency in learning the steps it takes to attain it in your everyday life.”

  • Liz has over 15 years of experience working with young people. She previously worked for 9 years at a children's emergency shelter in the Twin Cities, serving as a manager, program coach, and trainer. Since 2020, Liz has been running the Phoenix Learning Xchange (PLX), an 8-month training program through the University of Minnesota's Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, focusing on professionals working with multi-systems-involved adolescents and youth. She also serves as an events coordinator for the center.

    Liz serves as the Volunteer Coordinator and is on the Board of Directors at Why I Am, in addition to serving on the Board of Directors at 3 Strings, a non-profit supporting musical literacy for students with developmental disabilities and neuro-divergent students. Additionally, she volunteers with her church, leading the digital communications team. Liz has co-founded a business that supports young women transitioning into adulthood, offering mentorship, independent life skills, and eventually seeks to run a fellowship program for multiple young women at the Quail House.

  • With a career spanning over four decades in the multi-family housing industry, Doug has held leadership roles across HUD, nonprofit and for-profit sectors, and property management companies since 1975. He has managed properties and led major rehab and development projects in cities including Minneapolis–St. Paul, Chicago, New York City, and Atlanta. A founder or key partner in several successful property management firms, he has also served as an expert witness in multiple court cases and has played a pivotal role in pioneering Housing Improvement Area financing.

    Doug has held influential positions on numerous industry boards, including chairing the Minnesota Multi Housing Association and CIC Midwest. He continues to serve as an asset manager and advisor for several housing organizations and nonprofits, overseeing multi-million-dollar improvement projects. A Macalester College graduate (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa), he brings deep expertise in economics, math, and housing policy to every endeavor.

Board of Directors

  • Mario Gonzalez-Mitchell

    FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  • Angel Gonzalez-Mitchell

    TREASURER

  • Liz Fronsoe

    OFFICER

  • Shalonda Flowers

    OFFICER

  • Doug Strandness

    SECRETARY

  • Stephanie Botz

    OFFICER