Growing up in a Puerto Rican household in New Hampshire, Julia’s frequent visits to Puerto Rico fostered a strong emotional bond with the island and its people. 

“I have been visiting the island all my life, multiple times a year, so my connection to my family’s heritage has been strong since I was a baby.” This bond intensified after Hurricanes Maria, Irma, and Fiona wrought severe damage, leaving many families in dire need of help.

In 2022, Julia's unwavering commitment to Puerto Rico led her to a pivotal decision: she relocated to the island to join SBP Puerto Rico as an AmeriCorps member. Her move was not just a career shift but a personal commitment to contribute directly to the island’s reconstruction and to address the lingering aftermath of the natural disasters. 

“I wanted to work on the actual reconstruction of the homes and work directly with the homeowners in Puerto Rico who had lived through the devastating events caused by the natural disasters.” 

During her service year, Julia immersed herself in the hands-on work of disaster relief. Her role as a Project Lead required her to engage deeply with the technical aspects of construction and the human element of working with homeowners who had endured unimaginable hardship. 

“I fell in love with the work of a Project Lead with SBP – the tough, hands-on construction work... I felt good waking up every morning knowing I would be making some progress on the projects.” 

The needs in Puerto Rico were immense: homes needed rebuilding, communities required support, and people urgently needed a sense of normalcy and safety. 

Her work brought her into contact with volunteers from diverse backgrounds, including teenagers, corporate groups, college students, veterans, and retirees. These individuals came from various parts of the United States and carried different experiences, beliefs, and expectations. Julia recognized that effective collaboration required more than just logistical coordination—it demanded genuine understanding and connection.

“I wanted to find something that I could share with them as a slice of Puerto Rican culture that they could learn and enjoy during their time on the island.” 

To foster this connection, Julia leveraged her passion for salsa dancing, a facet of her Puerto Rican heritage. She saw salsa as more than just a dance; it was a cultural expression that could bridge gaps and build relationships. Julia began offering free salsa lessons to volunteers during their downtime. 

“I wanted to use salsa music and the dance steps as a way to unite our groups in a common activity.” 

Julia noticed that volunteers often felt a sense of cultural distance despite their dedication to the work. By organizing salsa workshops, she created a shared experience that helped bridge these gaps and improve team dynamics. 

Julia's salsa lessons not only facilitated interactions between volunteers and homeowners but also enhanced the overall service experience. Volunteers who had previously known little about Puerto Rican culture embraced this opportunity enthusiastically.  

“It was inspiring to see volunteers who had never danced salsa before in their lives take a chance and try to follow along with my steps and directions...They felt a stronger connection to Puerto Rico through the music and dancing.” 

Julia’s role also involved facilitating communication between volunteers and homeowners. Language barriers often posed challenges, as many homeowners spoke only Spanish while most volunteers spoke only English. Julia, bilingual and experienced in navigating cultural nuances, played a crucial role in bridging these gaps. 

“I am bilingual, as are many of my fellow AmeriCorps members serving in Puerto Rico, and we were able to bridge any gaps of communication and make sure that everyone was part of the conversation, being heard and being understood.” Julia also organized bilingual workshops to help volunteers learn basic Spanish phrases, which further improved interactions and deepened the volunteers’ engagement with the local community.