The Helen M. Atwell collection (1965-1994) contains information on Atwell, a community activist and volunteer in Southeast Dearborn. Atwell was involved with numerous organizations. A majority of the records are about Atwell's work with the Southeast Dearborn Community Council, SEDCC. Also included are materials related to her involvement with the Salina PTA, the Arab Community Center for Economics and Social Services, ACCESS, and other Arab-American organizations, as well as a limited amount of her personal papers. The collection is a record of activism in the neighborhood of Southeast Dearborn and the Arab-American community. Researchers interested in immigrant communities, Arab-Americans and urban neighborhood renewal should find material of interest.
Helen Mohammed Okdie Atwell was born in 1934 to Mohammed and Fatme Okdie, immigrants from Lebanon living in Dearborn Michigan. Atwell graduated from Fordson High School in 1952, and married John Atwell in 1952. The Atwells had eight children, divorcing in 1972. Atwell received her BA in Urban and Regional Studies from University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1978.
Since the 1960's, Atwell has been an activist and volunteer in her community of Southeast Dearborn. She volunteered at the Southeast Dearborn Community Council (SEDCC), then served as the executive director from 1978 until the organization folded in 1986. Atwell was a key activist in the southeast area's struggle against the City of Dearborn's desire for urban renewal, as well as the author of several federal grants that led to the construction of low-income housing and the redevelopment of the Dix and Vernor business district as the 'Arabian Village'.
Atwell was one of the founders of the Arab Community Center for Economics and Social Services (ACCESS), serving as the first treasurer and continually an active board member. Atwell volunteered at the American Muslim Society, which her parents helped establish. Eventually the Mosque split into two factions, and the early Lebanese community left and began a new association called American Bekka Center. Atwell served on the Women's Auxiliary in both organizations, and became the first female board member at the Bekka Center. Atwell now serves as the Bekka Center's first female vice-president.
In addition to Atwell's work at the SEDCC, ACCESS and the Mosques, she was also active in a number of other organizations including the Salina School District PTA, the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Lebanese Club, the Arab American Political Committee, the Arab Democratic Club, and the Arab World Festival.
After leaving the SEDCC in 1986, Atwell joined the staff of State Senator Agnes Dubronski as a Legislative Aid. In 1991 she became the Executive Director of the Metro Detroit Service Station Dealers' Association. In the mid-1990's Atwell joined other family members in running a small business.
Although Atwell is now often busy with her twenty-four grandchildren, she is still active in many organizations, particularly the Bekka Center.
