“I like working in teams, so meetings are essential to that, and I prefer coffee meetings to icebreakers,” says Julie Pride.
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Three years ago, she showed up at a children’s vaccine clinic dressed as a snail and wearing a top hat.and who can forget julie prideFitting costume at the 2022 Battle of the Paddles United Way fundraiser, circular inflatable yellow and red coronavirus suit.
But that’s nothing compared to one of the most unforgettable, or rather unforgettable, costume experiences for the fun-loving Champaign-Urbana Public Health District administrator. It happened during Pride’s youth in her hometown of Maroa.
“We greeted the kids at Jellystone Campground in extreme heat and humidity dressed as Boo Boo Bear,” she says. “I wanted to be Yogi Bear, but I wasn’t tall enough, so my sister ended up wearing clothes like that. The costume was suffocatingly hot and smelled of body odor, mold, and Lysol. I was 12 years old. My payment for wearing this suit and gagging for 30 minutes was a soda of my choice at the campground cafeteria.”
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Julie Pride, who has become the face of the pandemic locally, showed up at the 2022 United Way Battle of the Paddles wearing a coronavirus costume.
Over the past decade, Ms. Pride, who has received the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois’ Women of Excellence Award, the United Way’s Difference Maker Award, and the National Association of Social Workers’ Illinois Public Citizen Award, became CUPHD’s first female administrator in 2008. Appointed.
He holds three degrees from the University of Illinois, two on the Urbana campus and one in Springfield, and took the time to answer some questions. Editor Jeff D’Alessio In the 219th edition of Weekly Speed Reads, we spotlight leaders in organizations large and small.
Joan Lathrup was “ethical, fearless, and impressed upon me the importance of always learning,” says public health leader Julie Pride.
The only absolute rule at my workplace is… Don’t be rude to your clients.
The three adjectives I want my staff to use to describe me are… Genuine, principled and supportive.
My philosophy for meetings is… I like working in a team, so meetings are essential for that. I prefer meetings over coffee to breaking ice.
The hardest thing about being a leader is… Sometimes it’s lonely.
My favorite moment in this job is… I have worked at CUPHD in various capacities since 1995 and have great memories throughout my career.
High on the list is being part of CUPHD’s evolution from a small, isolated agency to Champaign County’s regional health strategist.
As for the only thing I can’t live without… Unfortunately, I have to say mobile phone. This is always in my hands and I try to answer messages, calls and emails as soon as possible.
On my office wall… Two giant whiteboards with photos of my family, various doodles and works by local artists.
February 3, 2021 Julie Pride shows Governor JB Pritzker around the vaccine distribution site at the I Hotel Conference Center.
My professional role model is… Joan W. Lathrup. She was one of the first people I met when I transferred to the University of California to attend the University of Illinois. She was her CUPHD social services director and became my mentor and supervisor.
Joan focused on working together to solve difficult problems. She understood that to make real progress on public health issues, we needed to address the root causes. This requires working for social justice.
She is an ethical and fearless person who impressed upon me the importance of constant learning.
I’m frugal in that regard… Almost everything around me screams frugality.
Most days, the first thing I do when I get to work is… Start going through the emails you’ve received since the last time you looked at them before leaving the house.
for lunch … I almost always leave the office, whether it’s eating at a restaurant, eating in my car, or at home.
After work… Playing with my Goldendoodle Harper. She looks forward to seeing me every time.
The most useful class I took at university was… It’s really hard to choose because I’ve had so many great classes and great professors over the years. But perhaps most beneficial were the undergraduate writing courses at Richland Community College. They gave me skills and confidence.
Julie Pride and Joan Zanic at the 2022 “That’s What She Said” rehearsal.
I read … All the time — probably too much. I also read books over and over again. The ones I recently completed are, again, “The Color of Law,” “Homo Deus,” “Sapiens,” “Lies My Teacher Told Me,” “The Betrayal of Trust,” and “Enough.” . I’m currently re-reading “The Kernel and the Bean,” “The Rum Diary,” “Caste,” and “What Moves the Dead.”
I wake up every day and go to them… 6am
My exercise routine is as follows… Well, for now, not much. When I feel motivated again, I’ll go for a walk, and I’d like to play pickleball, which I haven’t played since my senior year of high school.
I didn’t know until I decided that I wanted to do this job for a living… I started doing it. I started out as a commercial artist, but turned to social work when AIDS started to get serious in the Midwest.
That’s what led me to Joan Lathrup and the CU Public Health District.
My first “real job” was… I work at Pixie Parel at Northgate Mall in Decatur. This was a children’s clothing store. My job was to iron-on graphics and text onto custom t-shirts.
People of a certain age can appreciate the beauty of meaningful statements like “Keep on Truckin'” and “I’m with Stupid,” and the glittering photos of Major Farrah Fawcett and Star Wars characters. you will remember.
