E 57 | Julie Neward Is A Champion For Change

Rebecca Jones is joined this week by the Vice President and Co-Founder of the California Sibling Leadership Network and the Founder of the Natalie Project, Julie Neward. Neward, a councilwoman with the California State Council of Developmental Disabilities, is also a retail real estate management team leader. In the United States, 9 out of every 10 people living with a disability are assaulted in their lifetime. That statistic is devastating to all, but particularly so to Neward. Julie has worked tirelessly to bring justice for her own sister, Natalie, who was let down by a system meant to protect her. Neward’s experiences within the disabled care system has lit a fire of passion in her life, as she experienced first hand the lack of accountability and transparency that is required when incidents like this occur. Through networking and connection making, Julie has been able to begin the push for legislation that would make accountability and transparency by entities who receive any funding for disabilities a requirement, not a suggestion. Julie encourages people to become educated on the communities in our society, as you never know when these issues may touch your own life. Neward encourages young women to build the community around them by figuring out what story they want to tell and finding those who can connect with them. She says that balance is key, as advocacy is tiring work.Thank you for listening and joining the SheEO Lead-In community!