Hooray!! Please join me in congratulating our awesome October volunteer of the month – JULIA!
Julia came to SPAN in October 2013 and over the last year has jumped into all things SPAN head first! Julia generously participates in two volunteer roles; as a DART victim advocate (team lead!) and as Outreach Center support. She also took on the role of CR facilitator in June and helped to support a group of new staff, volunteers, and interns throughout their Anti- Violence training. Not only does she consistently rise above and beyond to serve SPAN clients, she always does it with a calm presence and a smile.
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- Tell me a little about your background – where you’re from, family, work/education experience, anything you’d like to share here, really.I was born and raised in Chicago, a place that is near and dear to my heart, but I have also found homes in the Indian and Chinese Himalayas, in the rolling hills of Virginia and alongside Colorado’s Flatirons. I am in my last semester at Naropa University, finishing an undergraduate degree in Peace Studies with minors in Contemplative Psychology and Gender and Women’s Studies. I see my education as a tool empowering me toward service. My passion is healing in its many forms.
- Do you have any special hobbies or interests?Haha – right now, I think my biggest hobby and interest is SPAN. No lie. I love sitting at the front desk, talking with clients while they wait for appointments, cracking jokes with interns, and sampling SPAN staff’s amazing baking. Outside of SPAN, I love drinking tea in big round mugs, going for bike rides on sunny days, reading a really good book, and spending time with my favorite people. I also like dogs, babies, the color purple (and The Color Purple), chocolate, wildflowers, fresh local produce, coffeeshops, bacon, traveling, singing, playing “C” “D” and “G” chords on the guitar, and eating dessert.
- What has been your favorite part of volunteering with SPAN?Ooh, that’s a hard one. I guess I’d have to say the people. Rarely in my life have I encountered so many incredible human beings in one place! SPAN staff, volunteers, interns, and clients have taught me so much, made me laugh so hard, and inspired me to no end. I am so grateful for every interaction I have had at SPAN and every relationship I have cultivated – there is no doubt in my mind that I am a more whole person because of being a part of SPAN’s community.
- Why is social justice work important to you?Social justice work is important to me because it is important to the world! Because it is essential to our culture and our planet’s healing and to my own. It propels growth, cultivates connection, and creates wholeness.
- Tell me a story about yourself, but only using SIX WORDS (no more, no less).You stumped me and that’s okay.