Mike Mitchell has had a circuitous path to residing in Howard County. Born in Beirut, and raised abroad in various areas including Afghanistan, Swaziland, and Indonesia, Mitchell had the opportunity to experience international migration firsthand. Through his travels, he developed a love for assisting others to reach their full potential, both personally and professionally. Through his frequent excursions he developed a strong empathy and appreciation for others, particularly those who have cultures and customs different from his own. 

He began his career in nonprofits, later working in organizations that focused on helping refugees and immigrants to thrive in the community by receiving housing, medical care, and other vital resources. Knowing how daunting the upheaval of a family life is, Mitchell made it his mission to aid those who have had that experience. His desire to help build a community led him to working with Luminus Network for New Americans, an organization dedicated to assisting the transition of immigrants and refugees into the Howard County community. 

Luminus also offers language and translation services throughout the community, with access to over 50 different languages. Mitchell shares that one of the most rewarding aspects of his position is witnessing the daily growth and impact that the organization has on client’s lives. 

“Hearing success stories from my colleagues makes me excited to go to work everyday,” says Mitchell. “We’ve had a young person who was a client and was abandoned as a child, and struggled for many years. Now they’re in community college and working on becoming a citizen. There’s another story of a young DACA recipient who came to Howard County when in eighth grade, learned English in a year and attended business school. Now he owns a coffee bar in Howard County and is employing other residents.” 

Luminus’ belief is that there is strength in bringing Americans together. The community’s vibrancy and heart comes from its residents, whether they have been local for years or days. A major responsibility of Luminus is to share the stories of the individuals and families that come to the United States, leading to the creation of a video series on social media highlighting the successes and stories of new Americans. The sharing of stories is not only a celebration of new neighbors, but is used as an educational tool to showcase the importance and the necessity of talents derived from other people. 

Mitchell also shares that he hopes that these stories will help alleviate false blanket statements about individuals from other countries. “We can’t acknowledge the richness of our lives now without acknowledging the stories of our ancestors, many of whom have traveled just as our clients do,” says Mitchell. The organization’s calling is to show residents of Howard County that the knowledge and insight from individuals from other countries is vital to the wellbeing and growth of the community. 

The journey towards integration in Howard County has challenges, and can be a lengthy process. However, Luminus is proud to work alongside people in the community dedicated to making this integration easier, and has many opportunities for residents to help. For those interested in assisting new Americans with their transition to living in Howard County, the organization is always looking for volunteers. There is a need for a variety of skills, including organizational and administrative. Likewise, Luminus has an internship program for high school and college students seeking to begin a career in immigration services. 

As Luminus serves the Howard County community they will continue expanding their current outreach and are striving to become more connected with other social resources in the community. By creating a safe space for new residents, Luminus works to make every person in Howard County feel at home.