BWJP Welcomes Julia Weber Esq. MSW, as the Director of the National Center on Gun Violence in Relationships and the Project Director of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms.
BWJP Welcomes Julia Weber Esq. MSW, as the Director of the National Center on Gun Violence in Relationships and the Project Director of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms.
Julia obtained her combined degrees in law and social work from Washington University in St. Louis and has worked for almost 30 years on violence prevention as an attorney, social worker, mediator, advocate, and domestic violence expert and educator. Julia has developed legislation and trained professionals nationally on intimate partner violence and firearms in civil, criminal, child custody, and family law matters, and has extensive experience drafting and implementing firearms violence prevention procedures focused on fairness, equity, and risk reduction for individuals and communities. She has developed and taught university courses on domestic violence law and on race, gender, and violence against women.
“We are thrilled to have Julia as the Director of the National Center on Gun Violence in Relationships and the Project Director of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms,” said BWJP CEO Amy J. Sánchez. “Her understanding of gender-based violence, gun violence, and the legal rights of survivors, all with a focus on advocacy, is unmatched. BWJP is honored to have her on our team.”
Meet Julia
Q: What brought you into the field of gender-based violence?
I grew up in a community that was very focused on fairness and social justice, surrounded by adults working on healing the world and fighting for civil rights. As I grew up and learned more about how pervasive gender-based violence was; attending an all-girls high school and majoring in Women's Studies in college, I decided that focusing on addressing gender-based violence in its various forms and in every way, I could contribute was critically important to making a difference and doing work that mattered to me.
Q: What drew you to BWJP?
While most recently I've been working on gun violence prevention, my career has included co-founding a program addressing sexual harassment at work; representing children in child custody matters; developing city-wide policies on sexual assault on campus; and teaching about and drafting legislation and protocols on intimate partner and family violence. BWJP's centers are innovative and support exactly what is needed to most effectively address the intersection of so many issues. When it comes to reducing the risk of harm that increases in relationships when firearms and abuse are present, BWJP is in an excellent position to lead the way. And this is a critical time given the rise in firearm-related deaths and injuries. I am excited for the opportunity to work with the experts here and to have the platform to do this work nationally with communities across the country.
Q: What are you most looking forward to working at BWJP?
Being able to collaborate across our various centers and divisions so that we can think through issues and develop solutions that are as useful as possible. People want to know that those of us doing this work are doing it cooperatively and really trying to solve the problems we address fairly and in ways that make a difference. I am really looking forward to doing that at BWJP.
Q: How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
I love to travel in pursuit of good food, wine, art and music, and getting to know local producers and artisans. I also enjoy documenting my trips by drawing, which often includes cartoons and recollections from the stories I hear and things I learn as I move through my neighborhood or where I am staying elsewhere in the world. People fascinate me and I love cultivating joy and being a part of events where we can be reminded of all the connection, creativity, and beauty we can create together.
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