Meet Julia Ramirez
CONOCE A JULIA RAMIREZ
认识雷靖丽
Julia Ramirez is a restorative justice practitioner, social worker and community organizer born and raised in Brighton Park.
Growing up on the southwest side, she has experienced firsthand the vast disinvestment in our communities. From an early age, Julia understood inequity in our neighborhoods. Her lived experiences and her 14 years as an organizer and non-profit leader in our communities have prepared Julia to be the leader the 12th ward needs.
Like too many families in our community, Julia lost a loved one to gun violence. This tragic incident made a great impact in her life. Since then, she has dedicated herself to tackling the root causes of violence that have caused her family, like many others, an inordinate amount of pain.
This experience moved Julia to fight for quality and equitable investments in our community. Through her work at Latinos Progresando and Instituto del Progreso Latino, Julia worked with immigrant communities on nonviolence initiatives to increase resources and reduce crime and violence. After attending the University of Chicago, Julia worked on the west side with BUILD Chicago on gang intervention initiatives, providing support and resources to at-risk youth. Most recently, Julia has worked as a restorative justice practitioner and social worker re-engaging students at Chicago Public Schools (CPS), connecting families with resources and supporting students’ through their integration in the public school system. Julia knows that when we invest in our communities, our families thrive and our neighborhoods prosper.
Julia has a track record of protecting and fighting for our communities. As an organizer for the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council, Julia helped to create safe spaces for families and supported local small businesses. She was also part of the efforts to raise funds for street vendors during the COVID pandemic in 2020 as a volunteer for Increase the Peace. Julia knows that small businesses, immigrant communities, and well resourced neighborhoods are what help communities thrive. She has done the work and is ready to keep doing that work.
