Prior to joining Hand in Hand Helia worked as a Systems Change Advocate focused on disability rights at Dale McIntosh Center, the Independent Living Center in Orange County CA. As a Black, queer and disabled woman, Helia has always been called to fight for the rights and full inclusion of all with the understanding that liberation is collective and that our struggles are intimately connected. In addition to working on issues of disability justice, Helia has experience as a domestic worker providing respite services for families with children with disabilities and has also employed domestic workers for childcare support. Born and raised in Long Beach, California, Helia is now raising her daughter there with her partner and they all enjoy being members of their local community. Helia has a Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership and is working toward a Master’s in Business Administration with a focus on Nonprofit Leadership.
