A young Indiana native will have the opportunity to learn more about social and environmental justice in her new role with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.

The SCN Lay Mission Volunteer Program recently welcomed Julia Cordts as an AmeriCorps Volunteer at Nazareth. Cordts joins Brenden Dines in the program, who was welcomed in September to focus on ecological sustainability efforts. As an AmeriCorps Volunteer, Julia will be working closely with Sister Joetta Venneman in the Office of Social and Environmental Justice. While here, she will serve as an environmental awareness educator until mid-July.

Julia, 20, learned about the AmeriCorps position through an AmeriCorps Vista at Bellarmine University, where she has attended school for the last two years. At Bellarmine, Julia was a resident assistant for the university’s Residence Life and was involved with the Student Government Association, responding to the needs of students. Taking time away from Bellarmine, the AmeriCorps Volunteer position will help Julia to broaden her experience and understanding of social justice issues. She has a particular interest in environmental law and would like to see the many ways the Sisters work for environmental and social justice.

“I pursued the position with Nazareth because I was interested in the bio-diversity around campus and this area of Kentucky, as well as the possibility of merging environmental and social justice through Sister Joetta’s office,” Julia said. In working with Sister Joetta, she hopes to better discern what degrees and careers to pursue after graduating from college. Currently, Julia’s goals for the future are to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice and then pursue a Juris Doctor degree.

Julia says her interest in social justice was sparked while watching news coverage of the deportation of migrants across the United States border. Her interest in environmental law was sparked by researching the dangers of oil pipelines and their impact on indigenous persons.

Julia’s father is a family doctor and her mother works with a nonprofit that advocates for those impacted by domestic and childhood abuse. Julia is the oldest of three children, travels frequently with her family and has been to 47 states. She played tennis for 10 years and took boxing courses during her freshman year of college, which she enjoyed. She also enjoys reading, singing, baking and playing the piano and flute.

Join the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in welcoming Julia to the team.

https://nazareth.org/