Candidate for
Board Member; Pasadena Unified School District; Seat 4

Milena is known for three things: effectiveness as a leader, dedication to her community, and a passion for quality education.

She is currently serving her second term on the Board of California Head Start Association. Prior to it she served for two years on the Board of the Center for Community and Family Services and on the Head Start Policy Council where she utilized her strength in parent engagement and policy development and implementation.

In July of 2003 she was appointed by the Pasadena City Council as a Code Enforcement commissioner. Serving as a commissioner offered Milena an opportunity to listen to the needs of the community and to exercise fairness and justice on behalf of the city. She is now in her second term.

Milena worked as a Family Service Associate for the local Head Start. While there, she had an opportunity to learn first hand about the needs and concerns of hundreds of Pasadena families. With her passion for empowerment, she was instrumental in helping these families resolve their issues and attain their goals.

Milena is a funding program coordinator for the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, City of Los Angeles. She facilitates funding and provides training for 85 Neighborhood Councils across Los Angeles, thereby helping thousands of citizens achieve their shared community goals in a responsive and efficient manner.

A former professional photographer and a professional writer, in 1998 Milena received a Theatre LA Ovation Award for her translation and adaptation of Anton Chekhov's "The Seagul", a theatre production she directed and produced at Hollywood Court Theatre in Hollywood.

Milena and her family came to the United States 17 years ago as political refugees from Moscow. Her faith in education motivated her intense study of English language and enabled her to enter junior college a year later.

Since then, Milena received her Bachelors of Arts degree from California State University, Sacramento and completed a Masters Program at UCLA, School of Theatre, Film and Television. She is now in her last year of a Masters of Public Administration program at California State University, Sacramento.

Milena is a mother of Ilya (18), a student at CSU Northridge, Serafim (6) a student in Norma Coombs Alternative Elementary Schools, Mikhael (4) a Head Start student and Shorena (2). She is married to Irakli Mgeladze, a property manager of Fair Oaks Pointe Apartments on North Fair Oaks.