Meet Julia Arroyo | Co Executive Director, Mother, Aztec Dancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julia Arroyo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julia, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
With access, opportunities, and people believing in me even when I could not. Seeing others grow and model balance. I became brave enough to explore, dream and prioritize balance my own body, mind and spirit

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
“I am a second-generation immigrant of Mexican/ Filipino descent and identify as Xicana. This work and the Young Womens Freedom Center are personal to me, having had involvement in foster care, the underground street economy, and incarceration. I am committed to my personal healing journey and am committed to supporting marginalized girls to break free from systemic and interpersonal violence. I am majoring in Women’s Studies at San Francisco City College and have an extensive background in community health work, rape crisis support, and have worked over a decade with sexually exploited youth. “ Julia “Juju” Arroyo

At YWFC, Julia has been instrumental to the success of the organization’s programmatic work and maintaining the culture and healing methodologies central to its ability to effect change. Julia can also be credited with running the YWFC headquarters in San Francisco – enabling expansion to Santa Clara County, Oakland, and Los Angeles.

Since her return to YWFC in 2014, she has progressed steadily in leadership, starting as a program coordinator and becoming the first managing director.

Julia is excited to step up as the new Executive Director alongside Abigail Richards. Her vision is for YWFC to continue to invest deeply in system-impacted young people and ensure they have opportunities to lead and grow at YWFC and in larger movements.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would start off by visiting the many murals of San Francisco. The walls and streets tell stories words cannot. I would take you to historic places such as Auntie Aprils in Bayview Hunters Point for breakfast, Mexicoalt in the Mission District for shopping, Miyakos in the Fillmore for a cold treat, and Chinatown so you know what eating banquet style really is. Then we would end in the Japanese rose garden to wind down In beautiful plant life.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The books for getting me through nights of solitary, for community Aunts, and Uncles for stepping in to love and care for me a youth. For the women who never gave upon me and meet me when I was in struggle.

Website: Youngwomenfree.org

Instagram: young_women_free

Linkedin: Young Womens Freedom Center

Facebook: Young Womens Freedom Center