Helen Miller was born and raised in Louisville, MS graduating from the Louisville Colored High School in 1955. She migrated to Chicago, IL shortly thereafter. She is presently 82 years old.
Helen Ashford Miller became one of the original founders of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 880 in Chicago, IL. There she helped fight for wage increases, health insurance, and for paid training of healthcare workers.
Helen began working as Vice President of SEIU in 1992, and while serving in that position, she worked alongside of President Barack Obama. She was elected President of the SEIU in 2004. Helen played an instrumental part in getting President Obama elected as Senator Obama of Chicago in 2005.
HELEN MILLER: FIRST HOMECARE WORKER ELECTED TO THE SEIU INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD (IEB), 2004 SEIU NATIONAL CONVENTION, San Francisco, California. In yet another milestone, SEIU LOCAL 880 PRESIDENT HELEN MILLER was elected to the SEIU National Executive Board at the 2004 SEIU International convention. Helen is noted for being one of the highest ranking black women to hold a leadership position in the SEIU to this day.
The Helen Miller Education and Training Center was establish and dedicated to Helen in 2007 in Chicago, IL. (see photo below) The center has assisted in helping over 20,000 healthcare and childcare providers.
She received a personal letter from then Senator Obama thanking her for all of her accomplishments. Helen then moved back to her home of Louisville, where she still resides.
Helen was just recently visited by, Keith Kelleher, a friend and former co-worker for many years. Keith is the Former President SEIU Healthcare IL & IN who retired in 2018. Keith presented Helen with an Operation Push Award, videos of her retirement party in 2007 and one of the 30th Year Anniversary of the Homecare Program that she assisted in establishing. Helen has numerous awards displayed in her Louisville home.
It’s such an honor to recognize and honor Helen Ashford Miller’s achievements for Black History Month 2019 in the exhibit at the Winston County Library. Thanks to Yvonne Norton and Gloria Turnipseed for assisting with this article. Both are members of Bethany Presbyterian Church, Louisville, along with Helen Ashford Miller. Rev. Cedric Wooten is their pastor.
