A Practitioner Who Has Spent Three Decades in the Field
Why learn with Dr. Mitra?
Dr. Mitra doesn't teach from textbooks alone. Every concept he introduces is drawn from real research surveys he has designed, communities he has studied, and organizations he has helped transform. Over three decades, his work has taken him across 15+ countries, shaping how recreation agencies, public-sector teams, and nonprofit boards collect and act on community data.
His approach is built around one belief: data only matters when it changes behavior. Rather than presenting findings in isolation, his workshops walk participants through the same reasoning he uses in his own research, from deciding what to measure, to turning results into decisions an organization can actually act on.
What You'll Gain?
- Gain frameworks you can implement in your organization immediately
- Learn from a researcher who has analyzed 100M+ real-world data points
- Move beyond theory, every session is grounded in community case studies
- Earn continuing education credits recognized across multiple sectors
About Us
Our Story
Founded in 1989 by Professor Bannon as a Midwestern Research Group, MLL was acquired in 1997 by Professor Ananda Mitra and expanded into a national research organization. Since then, MLL has completed over 150 studies across 35 US states and other countries, and in 2021 launched live workshops offering continuing education credits to recreation professionals.
Today, MLL combines three decades of applied research with practical, hands-on training — helping organizations turn community data into decisions that hold up in practice.
Our History
Founded in 1989 by Professor Bannon as a Midwestern Research Group, MLL was acquired in 1997 by Professor Ananda Mitra and expanded into a national research organization.
Our Track Record
Since then, MLL has completed over 150 studies across 35 US states and other countries, and in 2021 launched live workshops offering continuing education credits to recreation professionals.
Meet the Director
Dr. Ananda Mitra
Founder & Principal Researcher, MLL. Ph.D. in Mass Communication from Ohio University, author of 8 peer-reviewed books, and 30+ years of applied research across 15+ countries.