MiraCosta College Sociology Professor Shawntae Mitchum and Student Equity Administrative Support Assistant Jd Banks have been honored by the North San Diego County NAACP with its Salute to Women of Color Award for their unyielding contributions in empowering communities of color.

Mitchum is MiraCosta College graduate who was part of the college’s first Umoja Community cohort in 2013 and has been working with Umoja in building a support system for new students ever since, including the years she spent at California State University, San Marcos earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology.

“I don’t do the work that I do or get involved in the activities I’m involved in for the recognition; I do it because there is a need,” said Mitchum, who credited faculty and wrap-around services in Umoja for getting her through college and motivating her to strive to even greater heights. “I’ve often been on the receiving end of this kind of support at MiraCosta College, so it’s kind of surprising, but it’s also very humbling.”

Banks, who has been working at MiraCosta College for the past five years, is involved in numerous campus initiatives and has played a critical role in organizing the annual Black History Month and Pilipinx American History Month events, in addition to founding and organizing the Black Nerds Expo. She also serves with Mitchum as co-advisor of the Black Student Union. At the North San Diego County NAACP, Banks formerly chaired the Young Adults Committee and has organized workshops, such as Know Your Rights and Resume Writing.

“There are a lot of Black women doing a lot of great things and they really didn’t have to recognize me, but I am very grateful,” said Banks. She spent several years in Japan where she worked as an English language teacher in Japanese primary schools while being a freelance podcaster, English-language magazine editor and tutor, high school basketball coach, and self-published writer.

The North San Diego County NAACP’s mission is to empower underserved community members with the knowledge to improve their social and economic status through advocacy and civil rights services.

Mitchum and Banks are the latest in a long line of MiraCosta College professionals honored by the North San Diego County NAACP with its Salute to Women of Color Award. Previous honorees include Superintendent/President Sunita “Sunny” Cooke, former Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement Cynthia Rice, Service Learning Coordinator Beatriz Palmer, as well as Dean of Counseling and Student Development Dr. Wendy Stewart.