The Aspire Group

Ara Mgrdichianis a counselor, consultant, and writer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from UCLA, and a Master of Arts degree in Education from PLNU, as well as a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Counseling Credential. Mr. Mgrdichian has worked with young people and their families both in and out of the scholastic environment for years as a teacher, counselor, violence prevention specialist, and program coordinator in the United States (greater Los Angeles area), the Republic of Armenia, and has participated in humanitarian aid efforts in the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh).
 
He has also worked as a journalist, essayist, and general wordsmith, publishing articles, poetry and prose, among other writings, in small press publications and online platforms. He has lectured extensively in the greater Los Angeles area on social justice issues, human rights, and the Armenian Cause.
 
He served as advisor to the Deputy Education Minister of the Republic of Armenia in the early 1990s and consultant to other government officials, while heading the English Department and teaching at Yerevan’s Experimental High School.  He has worked with the UCLA Cultural/Critical Studies Group, the Armenian Relief Society, the Donald Freed Writers Group, and the Armenian Cultural Foundation, among other community and global organizations.
 
He is bilingual English/Armenian fluent and a Los Angeles native.