In Loving Memory of Helen S. Kim
January 16, 2026
It is with profound sorrow that Women Cross DMZ announces the passing of our dear friend, collaborator, and guiding light, Helen S. Kim. On January 12, 2026, Helen left us suddenly, leaving behind a legacy as one of the progressive movement’s most gifted facilitators.
Helen’s impact resonates through every organization she touched—including the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the Rockwood Leadership Institute—and the countless movement leaders whose lives she enriched. Her influence continues to ripple through the movements she helped shape.
A true renaissance woman, Helen excelled at everything she pursued. Immigrating from South Korea at age 12, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Carleton College and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota. Though qualified to practice law, she chose a path of community organizing, championing immigrant and workers rights as well as environmental justice. Helen taught U.S. social movement history at San Francisco State, directed flagship leadership programs at Rockwood, and co‑authored Working Across Generations: Defining the Future of Nonprofit Leadership. A devoted Zen Buddhist, an avid lover of the arts, and a dedicated pansori singer, she embodied a rare blend of intellect, compassion, and cultural richness.
From Women Cross DMZ’s earliest days, Helen helped steer the organization with strategic insight and a deep feminist vision. Her friendship with WCDMZ’s founder, Christine Ahn, spanned more than 25 years—they performed together in Jamaesori, a Korean women’s drumming group in Oakland, and helped form Korean Americans United for Peace, a grassroots response to the post‑9/11 era and “Axis of Evil.” After WCDMZ’s inaugural DMZ crossing, Helen’s wisdom and facilitation skills were essential to the organization’s sustained growth.
Helen’s steady presence guided nearly every major WCDMZ strategic retreat. Whether helping to orchestrate a women’s peace‑building gathering in Bali with North and South Korean women, launch the Korea Peace Now! campaign, or inaugurate the Feminist Peace Initiative, she always brought calm, patience, and joy—infusing our gatherings with physical movement, playful ice‑breakers, and sincere appreciation for every participant. Helen’s deep commitment and unwavering focus on social justice helped us clarify our strategies and goals while also protecting our spirits and sanity. When someone spoke, Helen always reflected back the speaker’s sentiments, so that they felt seen and heard. In moments of tension, Helen created safe spaces for honest, thoughtful dialogue and facilitated healing with grace. She was our sage guide as we built a movement of peace, justice, and feminist leadership.
Through Helen’s tireless advocacy, Women Cross DMZ gained connections to funders such as the Arca and Compton Foundations—partnerships that wouldn’t have been possible without her. Helen Kim’s name carried weight, and important people always picked up when she called. She constantly placed our organization’s mission at the forefront, encouraging each of us to bring our best selves to the work.
Helen embodied principle, brilliance, humility, kindness, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to bettering humanity. We were honored to have her join us in Washington, DC, for the 70th anniversary of the Korean armistice in 2023, where she proudly carried the banner “End the Korean War” alongside fellow longtime Korean American peace activists. Her dedication to Korea peace will forever inspire us, living on in our thoughts, our hearts, and our collective actions.
We invite you to share a memory, a photograph, or a few words here. All contributions will be compiled and sent to Helen’s family as a testament to the love and gratitude she inspired among so many around the world.
With deepest respect and enduring love,
Women Cross DMZ