This month marks Julie Robert’s 25th year with Community Builders. As our long-running Executive Director, Julie’s vision, leadership and work ethic has been a singular force in shaping and evolving the organization into what it is today.  

Looking back, Julie remembers the first time she visited the Downtown Eastside as a teenager. She had come to hand out sandwiches and was struck not only by the disparity of opportunities compared to the rest of the country but by the authenticity, resilience and loyalty in the community. She was moved by the survival stories she heard, and she made a commitment then to learning from and supporting the people she met and being a voice for those who at times lose their own. In her words, “I knew I wouldn’t ever want to do anything else with my life.”

That motivation to take a stand against injustice and suffering and to support marginalized communities in Vancouver and beyond has kept Julie going since 2002. The job has not been easy. In her early days, Julie worked nightshift and cleaned bathrooms, and later became a paramedic to supplement her income. Her role has changed considerably over the years, but the work that still means the most to her is when she gets to spend time with residents and to hear what’s important to them.  

Community Builders has grown to 15 sites with over 800 residents, beyond anything Julie could have dreamed of as a 19-year-old handing out sandwiches on the Downtown Eastside. The things that are important to her haven’t changed: striving for excellence in compassion, a personal mantra and the organization’s slogan. “I really believe that compassion and empathy mixed with a huge dose of hard work and determination can solve any challenges we face,” she says.

As for the future, there’s no telling what it holds. Those who know Julie know she’s always keen to say yes to new things. “I’m sure the future will involve growing and opening new sites and making sure our work continues to be innovative so that we can be part of better solutions to the challenges facing our community.” More than that, she hopes her years ahead with Community Builders are centered around bringing empathy, inclusion and dignity to one person at a time. That's where Julie started, and she hopes it’s where her work will end.  

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