JuliaSpringsteen

My family and I moved to Elizabethtown from Arlington, Virginia in 2009 when our son, Harris, was 10 weeks old and our daughter, Claire, had just turned two. My husband, Ray, accepted a position at Fort Knox Federal Credit Union. After having a baby who spent three weeks in NICU, packing and moving and all the adjustments that came with each step, I probably couldn’t have given you directions to our new home for about 18 months.

When things calmed down a bit, however, I was able to take a good look around where we had landed and it didn’t take long to realize we were in the right place for our family. There is a great mix of history and new developments, locals and transplants like ourselves.

I’ve spent the last nine years volunteering and also practicing law, specializing in helping nonprofits. My first volunteer experience locally was with Y.E.S. for Economic Success, which supported alcohol sales in Etown. It made sense to me then and the benefits of that successful campaign can be seen throughout the community.

I helped start Friends of Hardin County Animal Shelter, and am very proud of the work we have done to help homeless pets in Hardin County. I took adoptable pet photos for five years, ran many a fundraiser, drove many (many!) sick and injured shelter pets to the vet for care provided by the FOHCAS Medical Fund, and loved my time at the shelter. I will always look for ways to help pets in our community.

I have also served on the founding committee of Heels Together, a fund sponsored by the Central Kentucky Community Foundation that helps women and girls in our community. Through this work we have invested over $60,000 in women and girls, and have a $90,000 endowment to ensure that the fund continues forever. Heels Together has funded STEM Camps for girls, transportation support for women rebuilding their lives and many other projects to support women and girls. I truly believe that when women are raised up, the entire community improves.

I was honored to spend two and half years on the editorial board of The News-Enterprise, and valued the insight and knowledge of our community that I gained through my time there. Currently I serve as Chair of the Elizabethtown Heritage Council, and am co-chairing the annual BBQ, Blues & Bikes festival.

Elizabethtown is a great place to raise a family, and I want to make it even better. If you’re sensing a theme, it’s this: I like to help. I want to be involved in my community and contribute toward its progress and development. I have good perspective as an “outsider” and also have gained valuable insight as an involved member of our community.

Let me know what you want to talk about as far as making Elizabethtown your ideal place to live. There is always room for improvement, and with open discourse we can work together to move forward!

To learn more about Julia please visit: votejuliaspringsteen.com