Accomplishments

Neighborhood Leader Helps Build Park

SJ Parks.jpg

A Record of Public Service

  • Neighborhood Leader

    • President, Shasta/Hanchett Park Neighborhood Association

    • Secretary, Burbank Del Monte NAC

    • District 6 Neighborhood Leadership Group member

    • Diridon Good Neighbor Committee member

    • As a neighborhood leader, she mobilized parents to work with the City of San José and School District to create Hester Park

  • Public School Parent and Mentor

    • Lincoln High School Foundation Board

    • She mentored at-risk students at Lincoln High School as part of the Future Vision Mentoring Program, helping them believe in themselves and thrive

    • As a member of the Cory and Trace Elementary Home & School Clubs, Helen led efforts to update and build new playgrounds

    • Abraham Lincoln Athletic Booster Club

    • For sixteen years, she worked as a Research Specialist with  San José School District helping students improve their grades and earn their diplomas

  • Environmental Justice Advocate

    • San José Parks & Recreation Commission, 6 years, (3 of those years as Chair)

    • Former Secretary, Committee for Green Foothills, 7 years

    • Former Vice President Programs, San José Parks Foundation

    • San José Parks Advocates member

    • Save Our Trails member and Nominating Committee member

    • Former Board member Our City Forest

    • San José Coyote Valley Task Force member

  • Civic Engagement

    • Secretary, Santa Clara County Democratic Party

    • President, Former Silicon Valley Democratic Club

    • State Assembly District 28 Delegate, 3 years

    • DAWN Board member

Awards and Recognitions

  • Assembly District 28 Women of the Year -2017

  • Mayor Susan Hammer -Outstanding Women of Silicon Valley - 1996

  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association, Lola Brigg’s Civic Engagement Award - 2010

  • Award of Excellence for Charity support, Hot San Jose NIghts/S.T.E.A.M Festival - 2017

  • DAWN, Jenkins-Moore Founders Award - 2018

  • Commendation, Mayor Susan Hammer and CM Frank Fiscalini for Shasta Hanchett Park Tot lot task work to build Hester Park - 1996

  • Commendation, Mayor Chuck Reed and CM Nancy Pyle for 6 years leadership with San Jose Parks Commission - 2007

  • Commendation, Mayor Chuck Reed and CM Forrest Williams for 7 years leadership on Coyote Valley Task Force- 2008

  • Commendation, Mayor Sam Liccardo and CM Don Rocha for AD 28 Women of the Year recognition - 2017

  • Commendation, Board of Supervisors for AD 28 Women of the Year recognition - 2017

  • Silicon Valley Business Journal Women of Influence class of 2020