Episode #02 - Juli

Dr. Lois Lee speaks with Juli, a Children of the Night alumna whose story spans child trafficking, addiction, motherhood, and redemption — a powerful portrait of survival and purpose.

At just twelve years old, Juli fled abuse and hitchhiked down California’s I-5 — a desperate act that led her to the doors of Children of the Night. Over the years, she returned again and again: as a teenager seeking safety, and later as a young adult aging out of foster care. Each time, Children of the Night and Dr. Lee welcomed her home.

In this moving episode, Dr. Lois Lee and Juli explore the cycles of exploitation, resilience, and renewal that define so many survivor stories. Juli opens up about teen pregnancy, addiction, and the long road to sobriety — and how education became her path to empowerment. With a degree in criminal justice, she went on to work with the Portland Police Bureau’s Domestic Violence and Trafficking Team, supporting others once trapped by the same systems. Today, she continues her healing work as a therapeutic masseuse.

Listeners will gain insight into the realities of child exploitation, the failures of foster care, and the profound capacity of survivors to rebuild their lives.

Guest Bio

Juli is a survivor, mother, and advocate who first came to Children of the Night at age twelve. After earning her degree in criminal justice, she worked alongside the Portland Police Bureau’s Domestic Violence and Trafficking Team and continues to serve others as a therapeutic masseuse.

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