CA NOW Bids Farewell, Thanks, To Helen Grieco

CA NOW would like to bid good-bye to our Executive Director Helen Grieco, as she leaves the organization to pursue other political adventures, and to thank her for her 25 years of dutiful service to the National Organization for Women.

Helen began her service in 1983 with San Francisco NOW. Her politics are squarely grounded in feminist ideology, born from her family history of domestic violence and poverty, as well as her education in women studies and feminist psychology. Her visionary leadership and seasoned feminism has made CA NOW the go-to organization for women seeking justice.

Helen’s vision included a strong commitment to inclusion of and advocacy for young feminists and women of color. She ushered in a new generation of leaders and helped to elect the organization’s youngest and most diverse executive committees and presidents in CA NOW history.

She blessed the organization and the movement with her remarkable activism, mentorship, coalition-building, and an eagerness to tackle the tough issues. She created an incredible legacy of local, state and national campaigns and actions, including Love Your Body Day, as well as educational films for our organization. She took on the injustices mothers suffer at the hands of the family courts, and became a nationally recognized leader in the movement for exposing and reforming the family law system.

She was an extraordinary fundraiser, leading CA NOW into an unprecedented period of growth. She was an early advocate for the use of technology to bring the organization into the 21st century. She implemented exemplary workplace policies, including opportunities for working mothers to realize the feminist dream of life work balance. She is a leader committed to cooperation, compassion and consensus.

If you were ever fortunate enough to hear Helen speak, you surely have never forgotten it. Her character and eloquence also made her a star of the press, and a savvy media strategist. In her travels for CA NOW, as well as her own endeavors to teach women self defense, Helen inspired countless numbers of women and girls. Her personality, knowledge and enthusiasm won her friends and allies from the halls of the legislature, to the trenches of the movement’s frontlines.

The legacy Helen leaves behind is too big to express in this blog post. For all that she has done, all that she has built and all that she is, CA NOW recognizes the invaluable contributions of Helen Grieco and wishes her continued great success. We wish all the best to her and her family. (Now get out there and run for president, Helen!)

Comments

[pure hapa]

Helen Grieco, you are a rock star and my hero! I am still in awe of you.

Thank you for your dedication and passion in helping women and girls in California. Your leadership, inspiration and vision will truly be missed at NOW.

I can't wait to see what you do in the future.

-Your #1 fan

[Col Ben]

Helen,

I wanted to let you know I have admired your ceaseless energy and total committment towards the advancement of CA NOW. You and your compatriots have significantly increased my awareness and sensitivity to the programs that advocate social justice for women.

I especially want to thank you for the inspiration you have instilled in Nikki and the life experiences you have shared with her. Her intellectual growth and "street savy" are directly attributed to your mentorship.

Good luck and fortune in all your endeavors.

Ben

[Megan Seely]

NOW loses an amazing leader as Helen leaves. Helen--you transformed this organization, inspired countless, and lead with vision and integrity.

You are a true feminist! A great woman! An inspiring leader! My sister and my friend. What a ride! Now, off to the next adventure...the world is waiting!

--Megan Seely
past CA NOW President
proudly served with Helen Grieco, past Executive Director, CA NOW.

[AllFiredUp]

Words cannot describe the contribution to feminism Helen Grieco has made. I am a better feminist and a better person for being able to work by her side and learn from her. This is a sad day for CANOW, though I guess we have to understand that her greatness cannot be contained and her contribution must be shared with the world. If you could do for a community, a state or this nation what you have done for CANOW, through your love and through your passion, I know that this world and your beautiful daughter will be better off. Here's to an amazing past and an even brighter future.

[Honored Friend]

Few times in our lives that we meet someone that affects your actions,feelings and attitude the way Helen does. Her life long commitment to what is right and just comes from a select few. This wonderful lady was born to lead and tackle lifes challenges. After meeting Helen for the 1st time more than 40 years ago, I knew she was a person I would be friends with the rest of my life and to respect her. I am honored to know her.

[Riv]

Thank you Helen for having such a positive and profound effect both directly and indirectly on those I hold so tender and dear to my heart. You're intelligence, determination, and fortitude in overcoming many of the hurdles that face Women and the plight to advocate for their own sense of justice is an inspiration to us all. Hopefully one day, I'll have the honor and privilege of meeting such an amazing and enduring force. You are a true testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit and though NOW will be losing one of it's most valuable leaders, I know this nation is ready to embrace and continue to be empowered by one of it's most Phenomenal Women.

[Riv]

Thank you Helen for having such a positive and profound effect both directly and indirectly on those I hold so tender and dear to my heart. Your intelligence, determination, and fortitude in overcoming many of the hurdles that face Women and the plight to advocate for their own sense of justice is an inspiration to us all. Hopefully one day, I'll have the honor and privilege of meeting such an amazing and enduring force. You are a true testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit and though NOW will be losing one of it's most valuable leaders, I know this nation is ready to embrace and continue to be empowered by one of it's most Phenomenal Women.

[Jane]

To Helen: Thanks so much for being an inspiration to so many people, countless women, who like myself found so much wisdom and strength from you. though our time to work with each other was cut short and we never really got a chance to work together, just from hearing from your friends and colleagues how great a person you were in their lives and to this organization, i say with all honesty and truth that your legacy lives on! lol. I know for a fact that NOW has lost a true leader and advocate, and it's a loss that the organization will have to pay for. however, i know that your work will live on and you'll go on to keep fighting for what you believe in. thank you for fighting for the future of women, thank you for being a role model for people like me, and thank you for everything that you've done to make this organization what it used to be and is now fading without your prescence.

[feministactivist]

Helen Grieco has done more for the National Organization for Women than probably any other leader in the organization. She has lead many, many campaigns that National NOW has been replicating for years, even when she's not on the National board. California NOW has been an example to chapters across the country as she brought a level of professionalism to NOW that has yet to be surpassed elsewhere. The organization has come so far under the leadership and support of Helen Grieco, and will suffer greatly without her. It is truly the end of an era.

With the utmost respect, I mourn the passing of the torch.

Mandy Benson
Former California NOW President

[Lani Lee]

I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom.

[B. Ellis]

Helen, Thank you so much for the years of service to California NOW and to all women. Your service and dedication will be hard to match and we will all feel the loss of it for now (intentional lower case).

Some of us have just been waiting for you to be ready for the next chapter. Please take a look at what may be just what you and we need next: go to www.emergeca.org to find information about this marvelous organization that trains Democratic women who want to run for office. The deadline to apply for the Class of 2009 is September 22, 2008.

Whatever you do next, please call me when you have time.

[Molly Brassil]

Helen,

You are an amazing woman...I could never thank you and the staff at the California NOW office enough for all of your generosity, wisdom, guidance, support, empowerment and passion that you all offered me in my fortunate time as your intern. Your dedication to making the world a better place for women & girls is incredible...California NOW has truly lost a great leader...

All the best to you & your family,

Molly Brassil
CA NOW Intern 2005-2006

[FeministWarrior01]

Helen,

You are an inspiration to women everywhere, including me. Because of you, I am more dedicated to the feminist cause than ever before and more involved in political and social movements. The advice you gave me during my time, as well as your personal experience with domestic violence, have helped to shape my dedication to improve the lives of girls and women everywhere.

I wish you best of luck for the political endeavours you want to pursue. I hope that one day you will run for president, because I will vote for you in a heart beat!

Best of luck on everything, and thank you for everything.

Julia DeLuca
CA NOW Intern Summer 2007