Julia was raised in Bridgeport and maintains strong ties to her Country of origin Cape Verde.  

She and her two siblings lost their Mother to Cancer when she was six years old.  Her Father worked in a factory and fell into a vat of boiling water. He was  burnt over 80% of his body.  While family stepped in to support them she also experienced “Mental Physical and Sexual abuse throughout her childhood. I am familiar with trauma and heartbreak.”  

Julia went against her family’s wishes and attended Southern Connecticut State University and received her degree.  She worked as a Labor and Delivery Nurse for 23 years working at St. Vincents and Women’s Health Center at Yale in New Haven.   At Cornell Scott Hill Health Center.she was a Nurse, Nurse Educator and a Nurse Manager.  The five languages she speaks helps as she deals with multiple  ethnicities in her work. 

Julia’s first cousin is married to Roland Whitley so she had heard about Hang Time from him.  It was Gerard Chappel who actually invited her to attend this past year and she was hooked.  “I just love the  discussions and information flow.  The people are open and friendly and the family feeling is real.”  

While attending Grade School at Multicultural Magnet School, she learned Portuguese and Spanish.  In 1994 Julia was a Central High School State Basketball Champion.  Their team went 27-0!  She was a Beach Body Coach in 2016.  She currently plays  Kickball, Softball  and has completed two Tough Mudder (Cross Training Challenges).  Her first was 10 years ago and  the last one in June.  

During covid when Julia had some time to be with herself, she realized the trauma she had experienced “Physically, Mentally and Sexually”.   She found  a therapist  who was both  a talented professional and was willing to take the time and the care to help me go through this.

“I was so lucky” .  She also was brave enough to do the work.  Her therapist suggested She send a letter to each of her abusers and Julia  chose to go and face them in person. “ I wanted to see their reaction and not give them a chance to wriggle away and make excuses.”  

Julia has done a deep dive on her family’s genealogy.  She learned so much and has met  many relatives  who are now her family.  She was aware of her Cape Verde connection and learned of the  Portuguese, Spanish, and Ashkenazi Jewish relatives also.  She even found royal connections on both sides of her family.  

Julia has two children she gave birth to, Amani (16) and Sydney (15) but she also raised her first husband’s three children.  When her Father passed and left a son behind she brought him home and raised him also. That makes six!  

Now Julia works part time in Nursing and also Training.  She was approached about Modeling,  developed a portfolio and is being booked as a model. She is a Brand Manager and Influencer on Tik Tok.  You can find her at MadaleNa22020.  We cannot wait to see what Julia takes on next!  

We asked Ashley a few questions:

What is your favorite music genre?

Cape Verdean.  The SInger Gesara Evora was discovered in Cape Verde.  She released her first album in 1988.  She won a Grammy in 2004.  

Where would you like to travel? 

Aruba because I can speak my language.

How do you make a difference ?

I open my big mouth against injustice in the world.

What is something people do not know about you?  

I am a very good dancer!

What does Her Time mean to you? 

I do not know how I survived my adult life without Hang Time!  It means THAT much to me.