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MONITOR
Mentor
Some years ago, a prominent feature of
the National BLACK MONITOR was the
MONITOR Mentor column. Herein we ex
tolled the achievements of outstanding
African American men and women who
serve as role models for us all. This month
we continue this column with a look at the
accomplishments of Ms. Helen B. Love,
Ford Motor company's Community Rela
tions Director,
Helen B. Love:
Ford Motor Company's
Goodwill Ambassador
Networking (netwurk ing): 1. An informal
system whereby persons having common
interests or concerns assist each other,
as in the exchange of information or the
development of professional contacts. 2.
What Helen B. Love, Community Relations
Director for Ford Motor Company, does
best.
0.K.--so it's not really listed in the dictio
nary likethat, butanyone who knows Helen
Love, knows it easily could be. As Com
munity Relations Director for Ford Motor
Company, she is responsible for corpo
rate community involvement, includingthe
development of policies and strategies
that impact Ford in civic and community
affairs, volunteerism, minority relations and
corporate public interest concerns.
Through that position, Love works to
keep Ford in the forefront of American
corporations that areinvolved intheircom
munity. Because of her outgoing, gregari
ous andinquisitive nature, Loveturns chal
lenges faced by community groups into
opportunities for Fordto enhance its pres
ence and reputation.
In the African American community, Love
has worked with civil rights organizations
to maximize the human and financial re
sources from Ford and other companies.
She has served on the local and national
boards of several organizations including
the NAACP and the National Council of
Negro Women (NCNW).
By staying "connected" with the African
American I{gommunity, Love often learns of
opportunities for Ford to be a goed corpo
rate citizen. Last year, sensing the signifi
cance now and for future generations,
sheplayed a major role in the acquisition
by the National Council of Negro Women
of a historic building on Pennsylvania Av
enue between the White House and the
Capitol in Washington, D.C. for its new
Meet Ms.
Helen B.
Love
o d
| s
[ = 7 s okl J
National Centers for African American
Women. After learning from a colleague at
another company that time was running
out onthe option to purchase the building,
Love stepped in and arranged a meeting
with Ford Land Services Corporation ex
ecutives. That led to a new and unpre
cedented partnership and a commitment
by Ford, General Motors and Chrysler
Corporation to produce letters of credit so
the organization could close on the build
ing without further delays. That also led to
the support of other corporations like Sears
Roebuck and the services of First Union
Bank.
(Consider: NCNW president Dr. Dorothy
Heightsays/describes her as "creative and
she really knows how to bring people
together and to foster linkages and net
working.")
Love describes herself as an idea per
son, always exploring creative ways to
reach certain goals.
(Consider: The Rev. Jesse Jackson
agrees, saying...("l like the way Helen con
ceptualizes things.")
Whether traveling across the country to
conventions, speaking to young people,
or presenting awards on behalf of the
company, Love mixes her ownblend/brand
of corporate consciousness and commu
nity activism. Her 20 years of television
producing experience gave her the foun
dation for knowing how to get things
done, meet deadlines and come up with
creative ways to pool resources.
She points to television journalist Tony
Brown as a major influence in her early
career.
My first TV job on "Black Journal" with
Have you made a contribution to the NAACP, Operation PUSH, SCLC, or the Local Urban League This Month?
WNET in New York focused me on the
uniqueissues inthe African American com
munity," says Love. "l learnedthe impact of
community service by reporting on those
who practiced it. Now I've evolved into a
community servant."
Love also serves as secretary to FAAN
--Ford Employees African American Net
work. The group's vision is to create an
environment within Ford which recognizes
the value of diversity and which attracts,
develops and retains African American
salaried employees, which fulfills the
company's objectives. FAAN educates
members regarding successful personal
strategies that promote the accomplish
ment of company objectives and offers
opportunities for self-development, moni
toring, recruitment and networking.
Love took advantage of her "double mi
nority" status in the early 70's to get her
“foot in the door."
"Once on a job," she says, "l could dem
onstrate my strengths, and | was quick to
learn that we all bring something different
to the table. Inherently, | knew the value of
diversity and my own singular contribu
tions."
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National BLACK MONITOR--September 1996
Love passes on her experiences to
young African Americans, mentoring to
young African Americans both in and out
sidethe company. She hasreceived mary
community service awards, including Dol
lars and Sense Magazine's "Prestigious
Woman Recognition," Alternatives for Girls
--Role Model of the Year and the Herbert
Wright Community Service Award from
the Business Policy Review Council.
One community service activity she is
most proud of is "My Sisters' Closet," a
wardrobe cooperative through the Detroit
Urban League that provides gently-worn
business attire to women participating in
the League's employment programs.
"If I have any key to success, it's realizing
how interconnected we are on this planet,
particularly in the African American com
munity, and networking to garner the hu
man and financial resources to affect posi
tive change."
Along with four others on her staff, Love
promotes volunteerism within the com
pany, through such ongoing projects as
'Paint the Town" and the UNCF Walk-a-
Thon. Also, the office is producing an
ethnic guide to Detroit, "Global Journeys
in Metro Detroit" to be published in the fall.
N
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