Helen LAU Running (1945–2014)

Born in the West Indies, on the island of Trinidad and Tobago, of Chinese and Afro-Caribbean heritage, Helen Lau Running carried with her the spirit of island resilience and the cultural fusion that defines her homeland. Rooted in music, food, story, and community, she brought this richness of heritage into all she did. She came to the United States with her husband, Marine-turned-photographer John Running, and together they raised their family in Flagstaff, Arizona, at the foot of the sacred San Francisco Peaks. Helen was known for her kindness, her gentle presence, and her ability to make people feel seen. She had a gift for building bridges between cultures, generations, and disciplines. Whether through friendship, advocacy, or her own photography and writing, she championed artists, writers, scientists, and traditional knowledge keepers whose work honored both people and place. As a journalist with the Navajo Times, and later as a grant writer, Helen helped seed community projects that continue today—including the Coconino Center for the Arts and the original Fort Tuthill Amphitheater. She believed that art and culture were essential to community well-being and worked tirelessly to make them accessible. In 1991, Helen’s black-and-white documentary photographs were published alongside the words of writer Kathy Eckles Hooker in Time Among the Navajo (University of New Mexico Press/Salinas Bookshelf). Praised for its honesty and respect, the book became a teaching tool and cultural record of Diné life. In 2024, it was re-released by Soulstice Press as We Walk the Earth in Beauty. Her photographs—of families, farms, ceremonies, and everyday moments—speak of trust, compassion, and connection. She saw with both sensitivity and clarity: the laughter of grandmothers, the strength of children, the rhythm of daily work, and the Beauty Way carried forward through changing times. Even after her passing in 2014, Helen’s work continues to offer a kind of homecoming. In her images, one can almost smell piñon smoke, hear voices in Diné bizaad over morning coffee, and feel the warmth of community gathered around a drum. Her legacy is not only in the photographs she left behind, but in the kindness, vision, and humanity she carried into every relationship and project she touched.

Helen LAU Running

RIPower LIFE : May 1945 -2014

Born: Trinidad and Tobago , West Indies

Professional Summary

Versatile and experienced professional with a strong background in grant writing, program development, bilingual interpretation, IT support, journalism, and company management. Proven ability to secure funding, manage operations, and enhance communication strategies. Fluent in Spanish and French.

Professional Experience Grant Writer | Program Development

  • Coconino County, Northern Arizona, USA

    • Secured $1 million from The Arizona Heritage Foundation for the Ft. Tuthill Performing Arts Amphitheater Phase II construction.

  • North Country Community Health Center, Flagstaff, AZ

    • Obtained $65,000 from The Avon Foundation to fund women’s health education and breast cancer prevention outreach.

  • Northern Arizona University, School of Education – Native Science Connections Project

    • Assisted in securing $2 million from The National Science Foundation to improve Native American students' performance in STEM fields.

Company Manager | CEIBA Adventures Inc.

  • Managed daily operations of an eco-tourism company specializing in Mayan archaeology tours across Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize.

  • Implemented electronic organizational systems and established an online marketing presence.

  • Assessed financials, invoiced clients, and conducted international business transactions.

  • Developed and promoted adventure travel expeditions through digital marketing strategies.

Bilingual Interpreter | Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority (NARBHA)

  • Provided Spanish-language interpretation for clients with mental health challenges.

  • Narrated the Spanish version of NARBHA’s website.

  • Designed Spanish-language client data monitoring forms.

Computer Operations & IT Support

Senior Computer Operator | U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Astrogeology

  • Operated, monitored, and maintained four mainframe VAX computers supporting planetary science research.

  • Provided IT support to scientists, support staff, and technicians.

  • Managed system backups, resolved hardware issues, and performed routine maintenance.

  • Created digital images for cartographic and planetary mapping projects.

  • Trained new staff on computer operations and protocols.

Computer Technician |

Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC)

  • Provided IT help desk support across departments.

  • Managed incremental and comprehensive database backups.

  • Distributed computer-generated reports and operated the FMC PBX telephone system.

  • Assisted with ER reception and administrative functions.

Communications | Writer & Photographer

  • Navajo Hopi Observer Newspaper – Assistant Editor, writer, feature stories.

  • IBM General Products Division – Corporate communications writer.

  • American Library Association (ALA) – Multimedia advocacy project on library services in Northern Arizona.

  • Publications & Features:

    • The American Way – Feature article in American Airlines Inflight Magazine.

    • National Geographic – Educational photo essay on Navajo dryland farming techniques.

    • Time Among the Navajo – Ethnographic book published by The Museum of New Mexico Press.

Volunteer Work

  • Literacy Volunteers of Coconino County –

    English tutor for non-native speakers.

  • Sun Sounds Arizona – Radio broadcaster and news reader for the visually impaired.

Skills & Competencies

  • Grant Writing & Fundraising

  • Bilingual (Spanish & French)

  • IT Support & System Administration

  • Journalism & Feature Writing

  • Project Management & Operations

  • Digital Marketing & Online Promotion

Education

  • Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA

    • Communications – Environmental Studies

  • St. Joseph’s Convent POS, Trinidad, West Indies

HELEN LAU RUNNING ARCHIVES

FLAGSTAFF AZ 1970s-1980s

Inquiries: raechelrunning@gmail.com