Sue Fries Show – Joanna Mitchell and Diane Maxey – 4/11/15

Joanna grew up in a small town near Akron, Ohio with two sisters and a brother. In 1977 she moved to Pasadena, California to attend college, where she met her husband, Kenny. Her career began by working for a non-profit food bank in Lancaster where she developed life-skills classes, called the P.O.W.E.R. Program. After 7 years of a successful program, Joanna went back to school to complete her bachelor degree and received her BA in Organizational Leadership in 2007. At that time Joanna began working as case manager for the Department of Social Services, Los Angeles County. This job led her to an opportunity with the Los Angeles County Office of Education, which helped to further her passion for helping people in need who are receiving public assistance.