The METCO Board of Directors announced the appointment of Milagros (Milly) Arbaje-Thomas as its new chief executive officer, noting that Arbaje-Thomas embodies the passionate commitment to education, demonstrated leadership experience and deep knowledge of non-profit operations needed to lead the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity to the next level in its work.
Since 1966, METCO has provided the opportunity for children from racially-imbalanced schools in Boston and children from isolated suburban schools to learn together in an integrated public school setting. METCO currently serves 3,300 students from Boston and Springfield annually with 37 suburban school districts and 190 schools participating.
Arbaje-Thomas managed neighborhood antipoverty programs at Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) for 15 years. As deputy director of ABCD Field Operations she provided leadership to 14 neighborhood sites and is credited with transforming those sites into integrated, full-service case management organizations serving the low-income community. During her tenure the number of people served tripled to 6,000 low-income residents annually. Arbaje-Thomas raised millions of dollars to support those efforts, building long-lasting partnerships with community agencies and private sector institutions.
In addition to her citywide work, Arbaje-Thomas served as Director of ABCD’s Parker Hill/Fenway, Mattapan and Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Service Centers and the Citywide Hispanic Center. She is called a caring, passionate leader who challenges and motivates staff to perform at high professional standards.
“I am humbled and very excited by this outstanding opportunity to make a difference in the lives of so many children and families throughout Massachusetts,” said Arbaje-Thomas. “In today’s world we need more than ever to come together and embrace diversity and inclusiveness and create educational opportunity for all, as occurs in the METCO program.”
