The Spark Change Award honors leaders who catalyze transformation—not only through bold ideas, but also through the daily, persistent work of creating more inclusive, just communities. Julia was nominated by colleagues and selected by the Spark Change Award Selection Committee to be one of two inaugural recipients of this award.
The “Spark Change” award recognizes the resilience, innovation, and impactful contributions of individuals who actively work toward bridging divides, amplifying underrepresented voices, and fostering sustainable change within diverse communities.
Julia’s “unwavering commitment to supporting Spanish-speaking clients, providing sliding scale mental health support, and completing true community-based participatory research are just a few reasons for honoring her with this award”, noted the Cambio Center. Julia is known for sparking change in individuals and communities in her work, supporting college students visits to the border and sitting on a city health board, all while completing her daily tasks and research focused on infectious diseases.
The award was presented at the Cambio de Colores Conference, where she was recognized at the opening reception at Saint Louis University on June 4, 2025.
We congratulate Julia on this award!