Julia LeFrancois, MA

Julia's research spans an array of social-justice-centered issues, reflecting her dedication to community well-being. Under the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV), she led the Black Immigrant and Refugee Housing Project, focusing on policy recommendations for survivors of gender-based violence. Simultaneously, at The Consultation Center at Yale (TCC), Julia served as a Research Assistant II, overseeing interdisciplinary data collection and conducting evaluations within a mental health facility.

Within Esperanza United, as a Graduate Assistant, Julia coordinated mixed-methods studies on gender-based violence, resulting in peer-reviewed publications. Her Master's thesis, "Embodied youth narratives: A national photovoice project," delved into stress sources among Latiné youth, particularly emphasizing body trauma. Julia's McNair Research focused on empowering historically excluded communities through storytelling.

Additionally, her research underscores a commitment to exploring body-trauma within the context of Body-Neutrality practices, Disability Justice, and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). As a Research Consultant II at the NRCDV, Julia managed community-based research and evaluation projects, including the Linguistic Justice Workgroup. Notably, at the University of New Haven and Fairfield University, she contributed to restorative justice studies, community service coordination, and program-related research. Her involvement extended to teaching as an Adjunct Faculty, emphasizing self-developed Care Praxis of inclusion and decolonizing practices.