The pause is not a break from the work. It is the work. substack.com/@thejuliadal...

For some young mothers, defining a “household” for California food assistance is not simple. Who counts? A partner? Parents? Shared groceries? New Beeck Center research urges states to explain benefits rules in plain language, using real-life scenarios. beeckcenter.georgetown.edu/when-househo...

It’s been almost a week since the Mackinac Policy Conference and I have some thoughts . . . #MPC2026 open.substack.com/pub/thejulia...

“Higher education needs industry, Industry needs higher education. . . We have an ethical obligation to prepare them [students] for the jobs of the future.” Laura Lee McIntyre Kudos to the @michiganstateu.bsky.social Green & White Council for facilitating these conversations. #MPC2026

Most leadership conversations right now are about the waves. Fewer are about the stance. Twenty years from now, history won’t ask whether the water was rough, it will ask how we stood in it. open.substack.com/pub/thejulia...

The porch of the Grand Hotel is where Michigan moves. See you next week at #MPC26 open.substack.com/pub/thejulia...

“About 55% of young adults 18–24 who are eligible for SNAP are not accessing it.” That gap affects financial stability, education, and opportunity. Watch the full Civilla Chat and download our research brief: civilla.org/stories/clos...

I finally hand some space to think and get my hands in the dirt this weekend. substack.com/@thejuliadal...

Are we transforming broken systems or just making them easier to live with? Required reading from @pahlkadot.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/eatingpo...

Honored to join the @mshda.bsky.social team for their All Staff this week. 60 years of building homes and communities across Michigan. That’s worth celebrating. Thank you @amyhovey.bsky.social for the invitation and keep going! #MSHDA #Michigan

Where you were born should not determine where you end up. On April 30 I’m (@civilladetroit.bsky.social) joining colleagues from @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social and @aspeneop.bsky.social to talk about what it takes to change that. www.eventbrite.com/e/life-in-tr...

You’re never designing in a vacuum . . . Culture always matters.”

Work requirements don’t land on policy documents. They land on people. We did the research, tested the templates, and listened. Next week, we’re sharing what we found. Join @civilladetroit.bsky.social for a live demo www.eventbrite.com/e/protecting...

And so it begins . . . 6th grade Volleyball

11 rounds of user testing. Real residents. Real input. On March 19, we’re showing states exactly how to implement Medicaid work requirements without burying people in paperwork. @civilladetroit.bsky.social www.eventbrite.com/e/protecting...

Medicaid work requirements take effect Jan 1, 2027. The risk isn’t compliance — it’s a process that fails people before they get the chance. @civilladetroit.bsky.social built something to help. civilla.org/stories/medi...

Thursday: Prosper Canada and Civilla CEOs Elizabeth Mulholland and @thejuliadale.bsky.social share how to drive change in risk-averse public institutions. Join us: civillaandprospercanada.eventbrite.com

For public-serving leaders who want the real story, not the highlight reel join me + Prosper Canada’s Elizabeth Mulholland as we share what 45+ years of change work inside government actually looks like. Feb 26, 1pm. @civilladetroit.bsky.social www.eventbrite.com/e/lessons-fr...

Congratulations to Winnie A. Liao on her new role as COO for the @cityofdetroit.bsky.social! detroitmi.gov/news/mayor-s...

There is incredible power in storytelling that elevates the human experience. There is incredible power in storytelling that celebrates human dignity. Tell the story.

“You can tell a great deal about a country and a people by what they deem important enough to remember, to create moments for — what they put in their museum and what they celebrate.” Lonnie Bunch, Founding Director of the National Museum Of African American History

Read @thejuliadale.bsky.social's new interview in Detroit Is It on public-serving institutions, the resilience of Detroit, and maintaining optimism that change is possible. detroitisit.com/from-resilie...

Our highest loyalty doesn't belong to people or parties. It belongs to principles. If you wouldn't accept it from your opponents, you shouldn't accept it from your allies. Integrity is standing by your values even when your own group violates them.

I finished off 2025 with Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect. I cannot recommend the book enough. If you haven’t read it yet put it on the list for 2026! simonsinek.com/optimism_pre...

2026 is a big year for me so I decided to do a big thing and make a return to running with the Detroit International Half. #RunJuliaRun #MotherRunner

At @civilladetroit.bsky.social we spent some of the last few days before the Christmas Holiday reflecting on our work throughout 2025. We reflected on our learnings, explored our challenges, and toasted each other and our many successes. Here’s to a new year filled with new learnings!

In moments like these, courage becomes more than a virtue. It becomes a form of currency that keeps important work moving and allows leaders and teams to center the humanity of the people they serve . . .” #CourageAsCurrency #LeadershipMatters civilla.org/stories/cour...

As Civilla looks ahead to the coming year, we see courage not as a leadership accessory, but as essential infrastructure for anyone working to strengthen public systems and honor the people they are meant to serve. civilla.org/stories/cour...

If you missed our #FormFest25 session, @civilladetroit.bsky.social shared how we designed a digital Application Tracker in Michigan that gives residents real-time updates on their benefits & rebuilds trust in public services. youtu.be/uAiBJ14ycfY?...

We’re glad to support the CBPP’s new guide on reducing Medicaid coverage losses during H.R. 1 implementation. It’s a thoughtful resource to help states implement new work requirements while protecting people’s access to care. Read here: www.cbpp.org/research/hea...

Food is a basic human need. How we respond in this moment will define whether we care for our neighbors—or allow millions to go hungry. A group of civic tech nonprofits issued a statement on recent SNAP disruptions. @civilladetroit.bsky.social Read here: beeckcenter.georgetown.edu/statement-on...

Food is a basic human need. How we respond in this moment will define whether we care for our neighbors—or allow millions to go hungry. A group of civic tech nonprofits is issuing a statement on recent SNAP disruptions. Read here: beeckcenter.georgetown.edu/statement-on...

Recently @civilladetroit.bsky.social’s Lena Selzer sat down with @routefifty.bsky.social to share important insights as states grapple with new federal benefits requirements. www.route-fifty.com/customer-exp...

As a teen, our small family relied on food stamps and food baskets. Right now there are plenty of opportunities to support food insecure families. Today our family joined friends to volunteer at a local apple orchard donating their apples to area food banks. Many hands make for light work.

20M people face new #Medicaid work requirements in 2026. Small design choices will determine if eligible people keep coverage. Our research shows: plain language matters. #humancentereddesign States @civilladetroit.bsky.social can help. Report here: civilla.org/assets/files...

The #LCS Equestrian Team head back to school as the 2025 #MIHA Division D State Champs!

Going into the final day of the #MIHA State Finals with #LCSAthletics tied for first and a 2 point difference between the top three teams. What a competition it has been! Super proud of this girl and how she has grown as a horsewoman.

An early start to day 3 of the #MIHA Regional competition and the #LCSPilgrims are in 1st place! They are working towards states.

Wrapped up the evening of celebration with a stay at the #ElMoore - the views of #Detroit from the Sunrise cabin are spectacular!

Yesterday @civilladetroit.bsky.social had a beautiful brunch and then a PARTAY to celebrate with old and new team members, friends, family, and supporters. What a privilege it is to be on such important work with people who care and believe so deeply in what is possible. #ChangeMakers

Last month, the White House issued the #AmericaByDesign EO calling on federal agencies to design public services that are both functional and beautiful. At @civilladetroit.bsky.social we are doing just that. Read our latest reflection on the opportunity before us. civilla.org/stories/desi...

Doing life with my favorite person @therobdale.bsky.social

Today as the 2025 NCAP Annual Convention kicks off, the @civilladetroit.bsky.social team is looking forward to connecting with so many people passionate about change and improving the lives of others! #ChangeMakers #NCAP2025

Today is the last day vote to bring our panel to the 2026 @sxsw.com stage. Cast your vote and help bring @civilladetroit.bsky.social to Austin! participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx...

On Monday, I’ll be speaking at the Community Action Partnership Annual Convention in #Detroit - if you’ll be at #NCAP2025 drop by the @civilladetroit.bsky.social booth and introduce yourself - we’d love to meet you!

At @civilladetroit.bsky.social, we’ve learned that deep user research changes everything: it shifts conversations from “I think” to “Here’s what our users need.” #CivicTech #HCD

🚨Help us get to the SXSW stage! 🚨 Our proposed panel will explore what it will take to build a more integrated, modernized system that actually works for the people it’s meant to serve. Cast your vote and help bring this conversation to Austin!

And just like that we have another Dale driver on the road - life as we know it is changing!

At @civilladetroit.bsky.social we’re teaming up with an all-star crew of civic leaders to bring an essential question to @sxsw.com 2026: Is it time for a “Common App” for Public Benefits? Cast your vote and help bring this conversation to Austin! Vote today! participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx...