Brooke Helmick is a recent graduate of Human Rights M.A. program at the Columbia University Institute for the Study of Human Rights. In her research, she explored the relationship between civil society organizations, the strength of democracy and human rights law, and the rise in hate group activity. Prior to attending Columbia, she graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a B.A. in Gender Studies and a double minor in Theatre and Global Studies.

Brooke currently works in a number of spaces to promote equity and civil rights. In addition to her role as a Policy Fellow and Disability Rights Advocate for the Los Angeles City Civil, Human Rights, and Equity Department, she is the new Law and Policy Manager for the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, and performing as well as engaging in the arts as a method for healing, transformation, and social change.