Volunteer Spotlight: Ella Mitchell - 10th Annual Gala Service Experience and Reflections
- Carlen Arevalo
- Jul 17
- 4 min read
This story highlights Ella Mitchell's experiences, reflections, and calls to action after her volunteer experience at Leading Change Africa's 10th Annual Gala in 2025. Her proactivity and outstanding work continue to be recognized by the international organization for the valuable input she brought to the event and in supporting the scholars she met along the way.
Looking ahead to this year’s Annual Gala, taking place on November 12, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, having the support of more student volunteers will be a key part of the event's execution. Such opportunities are beneficial for college students seeking to give back, gain hands-on experience in nonprofit work, and expand their personal and professional networks.
Through our recent virtual conversation, Ella Mitchell reflected on how volunteering at the fundraising event deepened her understanding of educational equity, international student experiences, and event management.
Her connection to Leading Change Africa began after meeting Awa Maiga, the organization's Director of Operations & Engagement, during a graduate student orientation. Both shared ties to the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and quickly discovered common interests in policy, education, and international development. At the time, Ella was looking for ways to get involved with nonprofits in Madison that focused on working with people in Africa.
The stories behind the scenes
As a first-time attendee, Ella arrived knowing little about the organization. By the end of the evening, she left with a clear understanding of its mission and impact. What resonated most were the scholar stories.
When scholar attendance exceeded expectations, she helped transport students from Madison to Milwaukee.
“It was so fun to have that time [and] the car rides to get to know the students, talk about their experiences, and what their life is like in Madison. I really enjoyed that part.”
— Ella Mitchell, LCA 2025 Volunteer
For Ella, the student panel was also one of the most memorable parts of the evening. Hearing scholars discuss their journeys to the United States, their academic pursuits, and their future aspirations.
She was particularly struck by how effectively the organization connected individual success stories to a broader vision for educational access and leadership development.
During the Gala, Ella also helped checking in the guests, managing the registration table, ensuring food service was running smoothly, assisting with event operations, and staying afterward to help with cleanup and transporting the scholars back home.
A New Perspective on Educational Access
The conversations she had throughout the evening revealed challenges that often go unseen.
“[This] gave me a much greater appreciation for how challenging it is for international students in general, especially those who come from less financially developed countries, because there are so many barriers to getting to the U.S., and it has been getting harder in the past couple of years.
Huge appreciation for the amount of work that they have to put in on top of already being a college student, which is already hard. That was good to learn more about, have those conversations, and personally, it piqued my interest in educational issues like education policy.”
The experience also expanded her own policy interests.
“I’m a policy student, so I am not directly in the nonprofit space, [and] education policy has never been my number one interest area, but [this] definitely made me think: How can more students get experiences like this and get access to education in the U.S. without having to rely on just scholarship funding. And how do we make them feel more secure? Because I think [about] that fear of not knowing if you're going to be able to stay or where your funding is coming from; that's so hard. So, what other ways can we support students that are benefiting from an organization like Leading Change Africa? It just made me think about that more long-term."
— Ella Mitchell, LCA 2025 Volunteer
What began as a volunteer opportunity became an opportunity to learn, reflect, and rethink the systems that shape educational access around the world.
Why More Students Should Volunteer
For students who want to gain nonprofit experience but feel overwhelmed by long-term commitments, Ella believes volunteering at the Annual Gala is one of the most accessible ways to get involved.
She emphasizes that even a single evening can open doors to meaningful relationships, professional connections, and personal growth.
"People always need support, and you reaching out and doing a favor can only bring you good things and help you learn in the long run. It was a great experience. I would do it again."
— Ella Mitchell, LCA 2025 Volunteer
Whether you're looking to give back, meet inspiring changemakers, or simply learn more about educational opportunities for African youth, volunteering at the Annual Gala offers more than a chance to help—it offers a chance to be part of a story that is changing lives.
Join us at this year's Annual Gala and discover the ripple effect.
More About Ella Mitchell
Ella pursued a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies with a minor in Public Policy and African Studies. Next fall, she will continue to her second year as a student at the La Follette School of Public Affairs through the University of Wisconsin–Madison accelerated degree program, where she is a candidate for a Master's in International Public Affairs.
Her academic interests span food security, humanitarian assistance, and social policy with a particular focus on Africa. This is further shaped by her study abroad experience in Ghana and her current work with the Urban Studies Department’s Kaufman Lab, where she conducts food-access mapping and researches policy solutions to address food insecurity.
This summer, she is also a fellow at Duke University's Global Policy Program in Geneva, Switzerland, focusing on humanitarian aid and refugee response.
Continue the journey
Read the Next Story Here: LCA's Rural Development Program Spotlight : Empowering the Next Generation of Agricultural Leaders Through Practical Training and Sustainable Development.
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