Helen Cunningham became BCM’s Executive Director in November 2002, bringing over 25 years experience in social service and legislative advocacy. Upon her arrival, Helen oversaw the construction of BCM’s services center and guided the Board of Trustees through a strategic planning process. Under her leadership, BCM has increased the number of people served each year, welcomed new church partners, instituted an annual campaign, and designed and implemented new programs that have responded to the changing needs of the community.

Helen started her social work career as a medical social worker for the Visiting Nurse Association, in Detroit, Michigan. Other social service experience includes creating and directing a program serving severely isolated elderly living in SRO housing in Detroit and administering a job readiness program for high school drop-outs in Chicago, Illinois. Immediately prior to BCM, Helen was the Executive Director of Redevelopment Opportunities for Women (St. Louis, Missouri), a non-profit organization providing educational and supportive services for abused women and children. During her 10 years at ROW, Helen designed and implemented new models for strength-based programs for victims of family violence and developing collaborative partnerships with over twenty homeless and domestic violence shelters.

Helen also has over 10 years experience in legislative advocacy, serving as a policy analyst for the Detroit City Council for six years, the Director of Policy Development for the St. Louis Community Development Agency for three years, and privately consulting with the City of Memphis for two years. Through this period, Helen drafted and successfully lobbied the enactment of federal public housing legislation and local ordinances supporting low-income neighborhood development.

Helen received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Sociology from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1975 and her Master of Social Work degree from Wayne State University in 1982.