When local journalist Julia Hamra left television for the non-profit sector, she had no idea how much she'd love it (or need it). A native of North Little Rock, Julia Grayson Hamra started her career as a general assignment reporter in Joplin, Mo. In 2003 she returned home to anchor the morning show on KATV. But after three years, the hours began to take their toll.
'I decided to try public relations,' she wrote in a recent e-mail interview. 'It was just happenstance that I landed at Easter Seals, but now I see how fortunate I am to be here. I’ve been through many life-changing events in the four years I’ve been here, including marriage and becoming a mother, and I consider my co-workers and many of the families we serve to be like my extended family.'
As the public relations director at Easter Seals Arkansas, Julia sees every day how the organization impacts the lives of children and adults with disabilities. She also has first-hand experience as a mother.
Julia and husband Ryan, owner of Blue Coast Burrito, are parents to 17-month-old Spencer. When Julia noticed Spencer’s crawling wasn’t developing as it should, she consulted with his pediatrician. An evaluation at Easter Seals determined that physical therapy would get Spencer’s muscles strong enough for him to catch up on the developmental chart.
'I’ve often said that not using the wonderful services available to me at Easter Seals would be like working in a library and not reading the books,' Julia said. 'After about four months of therapy with Mrs. Kim, Spencer is walking forward and backward, climbing stairs, and playing with his friends. It pays to be proactive with your child and not listen when people tell you to just be patient!'
Here’s more about Julia, her family and Easter Seals Arkansas in her own words.
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