Julia Marie-Cecilia Ayala Harris DSCN0413_2.jpg

 

Life Verse

  “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.  Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

        -- Proverbs 31:8-9

 

I was born and raised into a large family in Illinois USA.  While in high school I became involved in various types of social justice issues effecting the poor and underprivileged in Chicago.  Around this time I also began my advocacy work as an adoption educator speaking to schools, the media, and various other groups about the benefits and realities of adoption.  I studied Sociology for three years at Wheaton College where I met, my now husband, John.   In the fall of 2001 I became an AmeriCorps VISTA, a program similar to the Peace Corps, working for Habitat for Humanity in rural Georgia.  In 2002 John and I became engaged and I moved to Tallahassee Florida where John was doing his graduate work.  During this time I came to love the South and found it to be a second home to me.  In December of 2002 John and I married in South Florida near where John grew up. 

 

After John received his Master’s Degree in 2003 we set off to Chicago so that I could finish my undergraduate studies at Trinity International University in Deerfield IL.  At Trinity I studied Social Science with an emphasis in Business Non-Profit Management.  While John and I where looking for a home church in the area we stumbled upon St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Deerfield.  Within weeks of arriving at St. Greg's we where not only members of the church but also it’s new Youth Ministers.  The two years I spent at St. Greg’s and Trinity where some of the most transformative of my life.  God brought me healing through the relationships I made at church and university.  I am now a much more self-confident person and leader because of the people that encouraged me during that busy time.  (Especially the teenagers in the youth group!) 

 

John and I are now embarking on our new adventure working as  Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Service Workers for the Sudan.  I will be a capacity building specialist for Church Ecumenical Action Sudan (CEAS).  In this role I will partner with local nonprofit organizations to develop strategic plans for their organization. 

 

 

 

John Harris                                       DSCN1635.jpg

 

I grew up in South Florida with my parents Rick and Kay and two brothers Jason and Jeff. I went on to attend Wheaton College outside of Chicago. There I majored in History and Sociology and also met Julia. I went on to graduate school at Florida State University were I earned my Masters degree in Planning, specializing in planning for developing areas.

 

I have always been interested in international development issues. I love traveling and I am passionate about working to fight poverty and oppression in the world.

 

 

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