Julianne North
Build A Miracle
Cardiff by the Sea, CA USA
"I love everything I do every day. It doesn’t matter how hard I’m working, I don’t ever think of it as hard work. It’s a blessing to get to see all of the good in the world."
Career Roadmap
Julianne's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Business, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
When we were first starting out, it was hard to secure funding or resources to expand things. I would ask people I was referred to and they would turn me down. I had to learn that it never hurts to ask. I'm not going to get a "yes" every time, so I just keep asking.
Here's the path I took:
GED
Bachelor's Degree
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Loyola Marymount University
Bachelor's Degree
Elementary Education and Teaching
Loyola Marymount University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I attended Loyola Marymount University, where I received my bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and elementary education.
2.
In 1985, while a sophomore in college, I went on a service trip to Tecate, Mexico, where I helped paint the dormitory of an orphanage and boys home.
3.
On that trip, I met my now-husband and business partner, Christopher.
4.
Together, we started an organization at LMU called De Colores, which is still in operation and organizes monthly student trips to build homes and schools in Tijuana.
5.
After I graduated, I moved to Mexico with Christopher, we got married, and we continued to help fundraise and help out with various charitable projects.
6.
In 1999, we decided to start our nonprofit, Build a Miracle, which focuses on building homes so that children can be raised by their families instead of having to live in an orphanage.
7.
Initially, our goal was to gather friends and family and to build one home a year, but over the years the organization has grown and grown—we have now built over 350 homes to date.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
No, we don't want to help.
How I responded:
When we were first starting out, it was hard to secure funding or resources to expand things. I would ask people I was referred to and they would turn me down. I had to learn that it never hurts to ask. I'm not going to get a "yes" every time, so I just keep asking.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
It is really hard to raise money and resources when running a nonprofit. It involves a lot of hard work and you rely on the generosity of others. We don't take a salary from this work and subsidize our income from my husband's other businesses.
Running a nonprofit can be challenging. There is a lot to manage and you worry about time, money, resources, etc. There are times when I don't sleep a lot, but it's all a labor of love.