Madeligne Tena was born in the Dominican Republic and immigrated to the United States at the age of five where she was raised by her single father in Boston. Madeligne attended Boston public schools and has a B.A. in Human Services from Northeastern University.

Madeligne currently works as the manager of Financial Capabilities for the CONNECT Program at The Neighborhood Developers in Chelsea. She has done direct service work, Section 8 voucher program administration, and tenant engagement. Madeligne is a board member of the newly formed nonprofit organization, “Pulling Eight,” which aims to assist Section 8 recipients and low- and moderate-income households with full real estate counseling and resources to achieve home ownership.

Madeligne recently went through the process of purchasing her first home in Fields Corner, Dorchester, with her husband, a Boston Public Schools teacher, and their two-year-old son.

“I have always felt driven to empower people, and with the plaguing issues of gentrification and wealth inequality, that drive has only grown stronger.”