Milan R. Balinton, is the Executive Director of the African American Community Service Agency (AACSA), an organization dedicated to providing quality educational, cultural, social, and recreational programs, services, and activities that perpetuate and strengthen African American identity, culture, values, traditions, knowledge, and family life. Milan became Executive Director of AACSA in 2011, when there were just two employees. During his tenure, the agency has grown to a 26-employee operation with a projected budget of $3 million.

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A Bay Area native, originating from Oakland, CA, he earned a B.A. from San Jose State University and Master of Public Administration from Golden Gate University. He has continually served his community, helping to develop youth and mentor them in their educational pursuits with the help of organizations such as the Tiger Woods Foundation, 100 Black Men of Silicon Valley, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. As one of the Golden State Warriors and 2022 Impact Warriors, Milan has been recognized as an Outstanding Alumni, winning the Harambee Award from San Jose State University, and a valuable citizen, being honored by Assembly Members Ash Kalra of District 27 and Robert Wieckowski of District 28.

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Milan’s vision and leadership were in full force in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With his leadership, the AACSA team realigned the agency’s services to meet the most urgent needs of more than 25,000 people in the community, which included food distribution, mental health services, housing assistance, and economic empowerment workshops. Also, he led the effort to provide housing assistance for individuals and families through a collaboration with Hyatt House, Destination: Home, and the support of Cisco Systems.

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With the tragic murder of George Floyd and the uprisings that followed in 2020, Milan was called on as a Black leader to respond and offer guidance to the response, which included reaching out to other Black-based, Black-led organizations to learn about their concerns and needs and to collaborate on actions. One outcome was a program of culturally sensitive mental health support for Black residents re-experiencing the trauma of racism. In addition, he was one of the many Santa Clara County community leaders who successfully petitioned the County to become the first in the state to declare Juneteenth a paid holiday. Driving long-term change, Milan is spearheading the establishment of an Advocacy/Policy Department at AACSA that will address policies that have created racially based disparities in income, home ownership, health, education, and employment.

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Milan is broadening his participation in several regional committees and task forces, including the Health and Racial Equity Task Force with the City of San Jose; the Faith Based and Community Spaces Task Force representing San Jose District 3; the Silicon Valley Community Foundation Community Advisory Council; Local Chapter Advisor of the Delta Rho Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity at SJSU, and as a member of the American Leadership Forum (ALF) CEO DIEL (diversity, inclusion, equity, and liberation) Cohort 2 Affinity Group. Furthering an equitable response to COVID-19, Milan is also part of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department’s COVID-19 Community Stakeholders Working Group and the COVID-19 Black Committee, a coalition of several Black-led community-based organizations that aims to help educate and protect African Americans through the pandemic.

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“Give back to the community, for many have sacrificed so that we can be free, and you must do the same,” are the wise words of Milan’s grandmother, which he uses as inspiration. These words — and his actions have led to his earning prestigious awards and commendations from local, regional, and national organizations. Milan continues to demonstrate his commitment to building an equitable and thriving community, with the potential for continued leadership in not only the nonprofit sector but throughout the region.

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