Helenmay Bady, President of ABAP

Helenmay Bady: A Voice for Empowerment, A Force for Change

With the heart of a healer and the spirit of a trailblazer, Helenmay Bady is a woman who embodies grace, grit, and deep-rooted purpose. Born in the island paradise of Antigua and Barbuda and now making her mark in Philadelphia, Helenmay is the dynamic President of the Antigua and Barbuda Association of Philadelphia Inc. (ABAP)—a role in which she leads with vision, resilience, and unwavering community love.

A double graduate with a B.S. in Biology from Widener University and a B.S. in Nursing from LaSalle University, Helenmay has committed her professional life to healing others. She serves as a Rehabilitation Nurse at Magee Rehabilitation/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where she also chairs the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and The Unit Base Council for Shared Governance for Nurses. She isn’t just a nurse—she’s a change agent within her field, lifting as she climbs.

Her passion for service began with her grandmother back in Antigua and took root in Philadelphia, where she first volunteered in the burn unit at Hahnemann University Hospital. That early act of giving has blossomed into a lifelong devotion to community care. From The Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Cultural Affairs to Crayons for Haiti, she has worked with powerful intent to uplift voices and build bridges across the African and Caribbean diasporas.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2017, Helenmay mobilized the city of Philadelphia with the creation of The Barbuda Hurricane Relief Fund, channeling hope and help back home. Under her leadership, ABAP launched initiatives like the Schuylkill Banks Health Walk and monthly community forums—bold efforts to nurture both physical health and civic dialogue.

She doesn’t just speak about healthy living—she lives it. From discussions on diabetes and COVID-19 to breaking down barriers in healthcare access, Helenmay uses her platform to educate and empower.

For her efforts, she was awarded the Philadelphia City Council Citation for Community Service in 2018, but ask her what fuels her, and she’ll say it’s simple: “Volunteering is the giving of self to empower the community.”

Helenmay Bady is not just a leader—she’s a movement. A woman of wisdom, warmth, and unwavering will. Whether she's speaking truth in boardrooms, packing relief barrels with volunteers, or curling up to watch a Star Wars movie, she moves with the confidence of a woman who knows who she is—and what she’s here to do.

***Each endeavoring all achieving***