Helina Fontes

Helina Fontes has years of experience working in mental health, nonprofits, and human services. Helina is currently the Program Director of a Mental Health focused program located in the Northeast region of Massachusetts, with offices located in Lynn, Lawrence, Lowell and Malden. Helina works directly with individuals impacted by mental health, addiction, incarceration and other traumatic life events.

Helina’s decision to run for Governor’s Council is informed by her lived and professional experiences working with and going through the Massachusetts judicial System. As the elected body responsible for vetting and approving the commonwealth’s justice, clerk and parole board nominees, the council plays a key role in shaping the quality and integrity of the Commonwealth’s justice system. With full autonomy to examine and vote as they choose, the council has a unique opportunity to evaluate the character and values of nominees to ensure that no harmful implicit biases exist that perpetuate racial and socio-economic inequalities and the cycle of mass incarceration. In order to create a justice system more empathetic towards, and reflective of the many populations residing in Massachusetts, we must first start by diversifying the council responsible for vetting and filling these positions. If elected, Helina will become the first person of color on the council, which will add racial, professional and socio-economic diversity to the Massachusetts judicial nominating process.