Christian Mitchell, Vice President

Christian Mitchell has a remarkable record of public policy accomplishments- from drafting and enacting legislation to innovative grassroots organizing to advising key government officials. Before joining Conlon Public Strategies, Mitchell served on Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s senior staff as Director of Outreach and External Affairs.  He uses his experience in the public sector and as a successful community organizer to help Conlon Public Strategies’ clients achieve their public policy objectives.

In 2008, Mitchell earned a B.A. in Public Policy Studies from the University of Chicago, where he specialized in Urban Studies. Inspired by his mother and grandfather’s hard work and commitment to the community, Mitchell chose a career in public service. He became the lead community organizer with Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation (SOUL). During his two years at SOUL, Mitchell led SOUL’s Green Jobs campaign and drafted legislation which became the Urban Weatherization Initiative, a $425 million dollar state jobs program focusing on insulation, weatherproofing, and upgrading of single family homes in low and moderate urban areas in Illinois. He also helped draft and obtain passage of a law to improve transportation options for workers with long commutes by creating a universal fare card for transit systems in Chicago and the South Suburbs.

Mitchell was tapped by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to serve as a member of his Energy, Environment, and Public Space Transition Committee. He has also worked as a field organizer for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s campaign and as the campaign manager and transition director for 4th Ward Alderman Will Burns. As a member of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s senior staff, Mitchell helped to advise the Administration on numerous policy matters and served as the President’s liaison with a broad range of community, civic and business groups.