Julia grew up in the Atlanta area and graduated from Emory University in 2013 with a degree in English and minors in Arabic and community building and social change. As an Emory Community Building and Social Change Fellow, Julia collaborated with community leaders, nonprofits, government officials, and private sector leaders to develop a community-based neighborhood revitalization plan. She has also worked on various community development initiatives and served as a research coordinator for the evaluation of the Atlanta Housing Authority’s Moving to Work program. At Emory, Julia helped organize sustainable food fairs and served with the Ethics and Servant Leadership Forum.
Field placement: Texas Hunger Initiative
Dallas, Texas
Julia worked to increase the participation and impact of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in the Dallas region by increasing the capacity of a Summer Meals sponsor coalition. She conducted interviews with Summer Meals sponsors, provided support through research and strategic planning to the coalition, and helped develop sponsor working groups to address specific sponsor challenges and opportunities. Julia also initiated a sponsor recognition program to promote proven best practices in summer meals.
Policy placement: Congressional Research Service
Washington, D.C.
Julia worked in the Domestic Social Policy Division with a focus on federal nutrition assistance programs. She developed a report on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), provided research support on nutrition assistance policy, and answered congressional inquiries about WIC and other federal child nutrition programs.