Laia C. Mitchell

Senior Program Officer – Community Development

lmitchell@gatesfamilyfoundation.org  |  (303) 316-3007

Laia joined the Gates Family Foundation in April of 2015 and works to advance the Foundation’s Community Development priorities statewide. Laia’s previous work experience has been in the nonprofit sector in the areas of human services, economic opportunity, and affordable housing, including roles as a vocational rehabilitation specialist and as a shelter and housing program manager. Laia holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Political Science from the University of Florida, and spend five years post-graduation living in northern Spain, where she worked with organic farmers with support from a Fulbright grant. Laia received her Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Colorado, Denver in 2015 with a focus on building healthy communities. While pursuing her graduate degree, Laia served in a number of research assistant and intern roles with organizations including Gary Community Investments, the Public Works Department of the City and County of Denver, and Mile High Connects. She also provided staff support to the DRCOG Sustainable Communities Initiative and conducted research on livable streets on behalf of the Department of Urban Planning at the University of Colorado, Denver. Laia currently serves on advisory boards for the Colorado Department of Local Affairs Main Streets Program, the Rural Funders Learning Network, Enterprise Community Partners Colorado, and is on the board of Nourish Colorado. She is a bilingual English and Spanish speaker.

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Posts by Laia C. Mitchell

• Equitable Community Development Requires Bold Vision and Community-Driven Action
• Urban Land Conservancy Connects the Dots Between Housing Policy and Segregated Schools
• Gates Helps Launch Effort to Address Impact of Rising Housing Costs on Low-Income Families
• Historic Apple Orchards Making a Comeback in Cortez