Jennie Miller Helderman

Jennie Miller Helderman championed women's and children's issues from the grassroots to national levels, beginning with a call to a crisis center that led to the first women's shelter in her hometown. She helped add a forensics component to a children's advocacy center; chaired the boards of a statewide advocacy organization and later Alabama's Department of Human Resources, (DHR). Charged with oversight of all the state's social programs, DHR saw 5,200 clients per month. Jennie worked with a...See more

Jennie Miller Helderman championed women's and children's issues from the grassroots to national levels, beginning with a call to a crisis center that led to the first women's shelter in her hometown. She helped add a forensics component to a children's advocacy center; chaired the boards of a statewide advocacy organization and later Alabama's Department of Human Resources, (DHR). Charged with oversight of all the state's social programs, DHR saw 5,200 clients per month. Jennie worked with a national organization to develop personal safety and leadership training for women. Jennie has taught school in rural Alabama, worked in a congressional office, and been photographer on an archeological research team at Pompeii. She is also a Pushcart Prize nominee who writes both fiction and nonfiction. Helderman was presented with Alumnae Achievement Award in 2012, the highest honor given by Kappa Kappa Gamma, based on her work as an author and community leader. Helderman's "As the Sycamore Grows" garnered her six national nonfiction awards, and she revisited the story with Ginger because the book offers a unique perspective on domestic violence and the need for such stories is stronger than ever. The veteran journalist frequently speaks on domestic violence and women's issues. See less