MICHAEL D. MITCHELL

148 Finale Terrace, Silver Spring, MD 20901

Phone: 301-980-5295; Email: michaeldmitchell57@gmail.com

 

 

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

 

An experienced manager, trainer, advocate, negotiator, legal counsel, grant and proposal writer, technical assistance provider and creative problem solver with extensive experience in fair housing, fair lending, community development, civil rights, and consumer protection. Skilled at providing legal analysis, planning, program management, and capacity building services for stakeholders at federal, state, municipal, non-profit and for-profit organizations.

 

EXPERIENCE

 

Michael D. Mitchell & Associates

Consultant 2014-Present

Provides consulting, training, program management, and legal services related to Civil Rights

• Provides consulting services related to civil rights and civil liberties in federal programs.

• Provided fair housing planning services to Cedar Grove Institute for Sustainable Communities related to a “Fair Housing Needs Assessment”.

• Provided Fair Housing, Fair Lending, and AFFH training for NCRC

• Provides legal representation for clients in the administrative process.

• Provides consulting services to International Development and Planning, LLC.

 

International Development and Planning, LLC. (IDP)

Consultant 2014-Present.

Provides consulting, training, and legal services related to Fair Housing, Fair Housing Planning, Fair Lending and Community Development.

• Provides training to fair housing investigators at state and local enforcement agencies

• Provides Fair Housing and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) services to HUD and Enterprise Community Partners. Served as a TA provider for the HUD “AFFH Ask a Question”

• Provides AFFH technical assistance and training through Enterprise Community Partners for HUD and its program recipients.

• Conducts Assessments of Fair Housing and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice for state and local jurisdictions.

 

Chickasaw Nation Industries

National Fair Housing Training Academy, Washington, DC

Instructor 2014- 2017

• Conducted week-long fair housing investigator training for HUD staff, state and local fair housing enforcement agencies (FHAP agencies), and private fair housing organizations.

• Revised and updated training material.

• Assisted with the development of the Fair Housing Information Clearinghouse.

• Provided curriculum development services for 5 week Investigator training curriculum.

 

National Community Reinvestment Coalition, National Neighbors, Washington, DC

Director 01/04/08 - 07/11/14 

• Managed over 20 HUD Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) grants from inception to successful conclusion.

• Supervised a staff of 8 fair housing professionals.

• Developed work plans and managed budgets.

• Conducted over 100 trainings nationwide on fair lending, fair lending enforcement, community development, foreclosure prevention, consumer protection, compliance, AFFH, and fair housing matters.

• Managed and conducted systemic investigations of discriminatory practices in the lending industry resulting in the filing of over 100 administrative complaints with HUD.

• Created and fostered fair lending partnerships nationwide with over a dozen community based organizations to enforce fair lending laws.

• Developed the capacity of local fair housing organizations to conduct fair housing/fair lending testing, education, investigations and enforcement actions.

• Conducted over 50 test coordinator and tester trainings nationwide.

• Provided technical assistance to a wide variety of stakeholders nationwide.

• Supervised the nationwide testing of mortgage lenders.

 

National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Washington, DC 

Vice President of Fair Lending, 04/05/03 -01/04/08

• Managed a national fair lending enforcement program including filing, negotiating and resolving systemic cases of lending discrimination.

• Managed a national fair housing lending testing program.

• Managed national compliance partnerships with a major realtor and a national lender.

• Managed several cutting-edge HUD contracts including: a national grant to test subprime. lenders; a grant to establish a new fair housing organization; and a grant to test mortgage brokers.

• Drafted articles for NCRC’s newsletter and website.

• Contributed to the planning of NCRC’s annual conferences.

• Managed a staff of 3 fair lending professionals, as well as, interns and volunteers.

 

Howard University School of Law, Washington, DC

Adjunct Professor, 2006-present

• Taught one 2-credit seminar on Fair Lending and Economic Justice.

• Taught five 2-credit seminars on Combating Predatory Lending & Promoting Economic Justice.

• Taught one 2-credit seminar on Housing Law and Policy.

 

The Equal Rights Center, Washington, DC

Director of Enforcement, 2000-2003

• Managed the enforcement program of a full-service civil rights organization involved in fair housing, public accommodations, and equal employment opportunity.

• Oversaw and conducted the intake, investigation, development, filing and resolution of discrimination complaints.

• Supervised a regional fair housing testing program.

• Drafted complaints and other legal documents.

• Represented and advocated on behalf of clients.

• Trained community groups, housing industry professionals, and civil rights testers.

• Supervised 5 employees.

 

Fair Housing Center of Suburban Maryland, Largo, MD

Director, 1997-2000

• Managed Fair Housing Center’s enforcement, education and outreach programs. Supervised 2 employees.

• Testified before state and local commissions, boards, and councils.

• Participated in preparation of Analysis of Impediments to fair housing.

 

Fair Housing Council of Greater Washington, Washington, DC

Program Coordinator, 1995-1997

• Conducted successful investigations of major homeowners Insurance companies pursuant to the fair housing act.

• Conducted testing of housing providers, and public accommodations.

 

City of Rockville, Rockville, MD

            Human Rights Officer, 1991-1995 

Human Rights Investigator, 1989-1991

• Enforced Chapter 11 of the Laws of Rockville, which prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and education.

• Conducted and supervised investigations and resolutions of discrimination complaints.

• Coordinated Rockville’s award-winning annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration.

• Supervised 3 employees.

 

Law Offices of Richard Wright, Oakland, CA

Attorney, 1984-1987

• Engaged in the general practice of law to include business law, family law, entertainment law, civil rights law, criminal law and employment law.

• Specialties included negotiating agreements, mediating disputes, drafting contracts and advising and counseling clients.

 

 

EDUCATION

           

            University of California, Berkeley School of Law, – Berkeley, CA.

            J.D., 1983

 

            Morehouse College – Atlanta, GA.

            B.A., cum laude, Political Science, 1979

 

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION

 

            Active Member of the State Bar of California