Julie Wade is a connector, a rare kind of human being who not only sees the potential to connect one alternative with another, but takes steps to bring concepts and people together, creating a force multiplier that results in something meaningful, efficient, and exciting.
Julie has worked and volunteered for non-profit organizations throughout her life. When she and her family lived in Hinsdale, IL, Alternative Worldwide’s headquarters were close to home. Nearly twenty years ago, one of the first alternative people she met was Lillian Covington, originally from Kenya and now the organization’s vice president of philanthropy. Julie and several of her associates had the chance to see our work; she remembers visiting the daughters of girls who had obtained business loans, training and aid through Alternative Belief Teams in Africa. These young women had traveled to the US to share their stories of hope and goal; The Belief Teams have been a key factor in the success of home loan recipients, a success that has rippled through their daughters’ technology.
Around the same time, Julie became a stylist for cabi, a trend firm dedicated to social responsibility. The heart of cabi Basis works to empower women through restoration, vocation and education; have been loyal partners of Alternative Worldwide for a long time. For every new cabi stylist, cabi provides funds to help a woman entrepreneur in a growing nation. Cabi customers can choose to complete their order, supporting the work of Alternative. Through cabi, Julie’s entrepreneurial background and her heart for supporting impactful nonprofits discovered a beautiful place to thrive.
Like any good connector, Julie sees “the next opportunity.” She points to the essential importance of human-centered interventions and tailoring to the precise needs of the people we serve; She remembers reading that as Alternative listened to our microloan buyers, we heard that a common problem was paying the mortgage while needing to pay tuition to send their children to high school. We saw the opportunity, the possibility of connection, and we launched Alternative’s Training Finance program that connects all parents and faculty with financial assets, training and support, one of the few non-profit organizations to act.
Seeking deeper and broader connections at all times, Julie’s group of family and friends continue to help Alternative with their time, expertise, and treasure. Julie values the chance to “open people’s eyes” to our huge and varied world. She traveled to China with Alternative and has a Perception Journey to Colombia coming up soon; she has attended various alternative summits around the country; She has kindly organized events that bring new and old members together to learn more about our work from alternative senior leaders. She has volunteered to evaluate performances for the Girls and Ladies Alternative (WeGO) awards. Julie has dedicated herself to supporting Alternative as Governor, with articles and reparations as an advocate for Alternative to associates and colleagues.
Julie continues to volunteer in her Florida and Michigan communities; she has raised her children to have the same commitment to making our world a better place. When the pandemic forced a neighborhood nonprofit to cancel her “fun run,” Julie convinced her family to do her own run and sent the donation to the nonprofit. It was so rewarding that they created their own ten-week “enjoyable run” tour, choosing to help a special non-profit each week.
We are so grateful for literal and figurative “seekers” like Julie and her family, partners, and colleagues. As an Alternative International Governor, she leads by action, by example, by heart, motivated to help people build lives of dignity and success.
