“Once the amazing surgeon Dr. Jerry Razook fixed my heart, maintaining good health stayed at the top of my list."
MICHELLE MILLBEN "Kids have greater exposure to information than ever, which means they have more questions about what is going on in the world,” says Michelle Millben. Michelle is the founder of Explanation Kids, a startup disrupting civic education. Dedicated to providing innovative fact-based, non-partisan lessons and conversation starters on tough subjects, Explanation Kids serves kids PreK-5th grade. Michelle is a former youth pastor and celebrated degreed musician. After answering a calling to serve, Michelle attended law school and began her career in Washington on Capitol Hill as an advisor and counsel to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. She was recruited from Capitol Hill to work in President Obama’s White House as the Congressional director for the Presidential Personnel office, then to the U.S Department of Justice as an attorney advisor. She returned to the White House as Special Assistant to the President for the Office of Legislative Affairs in President Obama’s last year in the White House.
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Michelle has lived in Alexandria for 12 years and has demonstrated strong commitment to serving youth and working families since her arrival. She is a 2017 awardee of the Alexandria Chamber’s 40 under 40 award, former Commissioner for ARHA, she serves on the board for the Carpenter’s Shelter and the Alexandria Small Business Development Center, and she is a minister at National Community Church. In her spare time, she sings background vocals for luminaries such as Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Heart, Garth Brooks, and Steven Tyler, just to name a few. As a survivor of open-heart surgery as a child, the Go Red for Women initiative is particularly meaningful for Michelle. “My surgeon, Dr. Jerry Razzok, was the best. Since he fixed my heart, maintaining great health and staying active has stayed at the top of my list,” which is why she spends a lot of time in Virginia’s outdoors. “For me, living my best, healthiest life is making an impact on young people. It’s an honor to be called to this work and to serve my community in this way.”
