“Examine what you value, and align your time and resources to reflect your values.” That’s Julie Clark’s advice she would like to give to others. It is also the stance Julie takes each and every day as CEO of Doma International.
Julie first visited a Russian orphanage in 1993 and she and her husband Dan have served as missionaries since 2000. While working with orphan graduates and women in crisis with Children’s HopeChest, they saw a need for a nonprofit that would have the focus of early intervention and prevention in the lives of orphaned children and vulnerable women and families. Doma was launched in August 2008 with the goal to empower women and embrace children at ConnectionPoints in Ethiopia, Uganda, Ukraine, and Russia. They have set up a children’s center in Uganda, early intervention with baby houses in Ukraine, parenting and mentorships for vulnerable women in Russia and human trafficking survivors in the U.S.
Doma rehabilitates survivors of sex trafficking from the U.S. by supporting them through the CATCH court. CATCH is an innovative, voluntary, two-year program to help ladies trapped in the sex trade. This program gives women who have had terrible lives another chance in life, gives them life skills they never have had before and gives them a real paycheck for the first time in their lives. They also employ survivors through their social enterprise, Freedom a la Cart.
Julie has a background in Special Education, International & Comparative Education, School Administration, and International Human Rights. These specialties have prepared her for some of the complexities of working in cross cultural contexts. With all that happens day to day, Julie does admit that it is hard to find time to balance everything. “Things get missed. I have to prioritize, say no (sometimes), and empower others to do tasks that they are really good at, that I probably shouldn’t be doing.”
Along with Julie’s very supportive husband and 3 great kids, she has an amazing support system in her small staff. “I have amazing friends and colleagues who work hard for the women and children we love because they love them so deeply.” She also says that she is very proud of how much job satisfaction the Doma staff has. “It feels good to know that somehow my leadership is affecting others positively – even when we all have so much to balance!”
Julie’s ultimate goal is to see systems change. “I would like funding to be available to work with all the survivors and orphaned children we encounter. And to make a measurable change in how many women are orphaning their children.” Julie would also like to open a restaurant and expand Freedom a la Cart’s catering business.
For more details about Doma International or Freedom a la Cart, visit www.domaconnection.org.