Oral Histories

Helene O´Brien

   December 14, 2023

   

Organizer, New York; Co-Head Organizer, New York; National Field Organizer, Phoenix and New Orleans, 1989-2008

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1. December 14, 2023 Interviewed by Cate Poe

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Helene O´Brien worked for ACORN for 19 years, starting with New York ACORN (6/5/1989) where over a ten year period she was an intern, neighborhood organizer, parent/school organizer, public housing tenant and immigrant organizer before becoming Co-NYC Head Organizer with responsibility for the Bronx and Manhattan offices. She was then promoted to ACORN National Field Organizer with the mandate of expanding ACORN from 23 offices to 100, which she accomplished, working first from Phoenix, Arizona before moving to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. She left ACORN 9/1/08. At the time of this interview, Helene served as District Director for SEIU 32BJ.