Hellen is a Life Member of the NAACP and past San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP 2nd Vice President, Political Action Chairperson, and advisor of the Youth Council. She is a graduate of San Jose State University with post graduate study in African History and a career as a high school Social Studies teacher. She served as the chairperson of the Barack Obama Blvd Committee in 2021. Hellen is a past president of the San Jose Chapter of the Links, Inc. Hellen is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and serves on the Executive Board. She is also a member of the Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators. She received “Woman of Excellence in Advocacy Award” from the 100 Black Women Organization and was named a “Black Legend of Santa Clara County”, in 2022.