Julie Terlemezian “pays her rent” through service and activism

Julie relates her community or volunteer services to an Alice Walker quote, "Activism is my rent for living on the planet." To her, this means we are all activists. We all live in communities and are connected to each other. There are so many ways to give back and support our family, friends, and neighbors. The key is finding the best fit for you and sharing your passion and talents.

For Julie Terlemezian, her passion is not limited to one pressing need. She is curious and empathetic on hunger, housing, education, healthcare, transportation, and income inequality. They're all connected to the same abundance of inequity thread throughout Atlanta.

“To be around, either in person or virtually, people who are committed to making a positive impact on their community, the feeling I get every time I volunteer is amazing.. Whether it’s a meal pack or a beautification project, there’s something really special about being in that energy.”

— Julie Terlemezian

Even through the pandemic, Julie continues to check out the Hands On Atlanta calendar to find ways to be engaged in person and virtually to support these causes. Finding that the people were one of the only constants in the past - very weird - year, Julie feels honored to volunteer weekly and connect with the team at Hands On Atlanta. and hear about the amazing work they do every day.

“It's been an honor to serve alongside them and hear about the amazing work they do every day. And it also feels good to laugh,” said Terlemezian.

Elaine Hudson, Hands On Atlanta Associate Director of Nonprofit Services said, “Julie allows our entire Community Engagement team to expand our work because she's able to take on sophisticated assignments that are time consuming, and she flat out loves the work.”

You can learn more about Julie’s volunteer experience with Hands On Atlanta by connecting with her through our chat window on our site! Julie helps support volunteer questions, verify service hours, place groups and whatever else a typical day throws at her.

She adds, “Check out the Hands On Atlanta calendar! There are always so many ways to get involved and they make it so easy and fun!”

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Inspired by Julie’s story?

Help us engage and highlight incredible efforts like Julie’s, by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta. It takes hard work AND financial support to tackle Atlanta’s most pressing needs. When you let our hands be yours, every $1 invested turns into $6 of economic impact! Donate now and help ensure a more civically engaged and equitable Atlanta.