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Marilyn became a volunteer with Helpers Community Inc’s Helpers Artisan Boutique in 2019. In September of 2020 she was hired by the Helper’s Board of Directors as an employee of Helpers Community to buy, merchandise, provide retail marketing expertise and training for client program participants for the Helpers Artisan Boutique and the marketing for Helpers Community Inc.

Her prior experience includes wholesale, retail, marketing, and education: Retail Buyer Macys West, SF, CA; Sr Product Manager Levi Strauss & Co (LS & Co), SF, CA; Sr Retail Marketing Manager LS & Co, NY, NY; Retail Marketing Director Cole Haan, NY, NY; Retail Sales Consultant ABC Carpet and Home, NY, NY; Adjunct Professor – Parsons School of Design and Fashion Institute of Technology, NY, NY; Territory Team Leader and National Recruiter, MCG, NY, NY and SF, LA, CA, WA, AZ, ID. Currently a member of the National Arts Club, NY, NY.

Growing up in Honolulu, Hawaii, diversity was always a part of Marilyn’s life. Her desire to work with philanthropy began with her tenure at LS & Co, an organization which believes in “inclusiveness, diversity, giving back, supporting vulnerable communities, employee volunteerism, sustainability, and belief in the values of empathy, originality, integrity, courage.” While she worked at LS & Co Marilyn became involved with nonprofit work bringing together Chinese American and African American students through programs such as developing a pen pal program with The Transfiguration School in Chinatown NY, and an inner-city African American school in Brooklyn, the Trey Whitfield School, setting up opportunities for shared experiences between the two schools and support from LS & Co’s Foundation to gain assistance for the programs. While in NY she also served on the Board of Directors for Mercado Global, a 15-year-old Brooklyn based nonprofit and accessory brand, which empowers rural Guatemalan women to become entrepreneurs. These indigenous women through monetary support, wellness, health education, entrepreneurial and financial skills training, were provided with access to the global market and improved life for their families and communities, through Mercado Global’s partnership and development. Again, LS & Co provided support for the programs and the womens’ livelihood was further positively impacted by integration of handwoven fabric to Levi’s designs which LS & Co sells at retail. In addition, while at MCG/Randa Apparel & Accessories (RAA) Marilyn introduced RAA to Mercado Global. One of RAA’s suppliers has had lasting impact on training for the women with sewing machines traditionally only used by men at a local factory and that resource providing storage of the leather used in making handbags, favorably impacting efficiencies and empowerment, breaking the cycle of poverty.

Being at Helpers Community provides the opportunity to work with individuals with developmental disabilities giving them a voice and building awareness of their talent through showcasing their art and products.