by Oli Loeffler, Development Coordinator

Words Alive recently welcomed Julie Ramos Oser (she/her) as a Program Coordinator supporting our Read Aloud and Adolescent Book Group programs across San Diego.

Julie grew up in Chula Vista, California, and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside. After graduation, she returned home to San Diego with a clear goal: to make a positive difference in her community. Over the past three years, she has worked in youth-centered nonprofit spaces, including the San Diego Youth Symphony and the Fleet Science Center, where she cultivated a deep commitment to uplifting young people through meaningful, engaging experiences.

Julie is passionate about creating environments that center belonging, play, learning, and connection. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, making art, spending time in nature, and diving into her curiosity about evolutionary biology.

Now, a few words from Julie:

What excites you about working with Words Alive?

What first drew me to Words Alive was the mission. I’m obsessed with books and reading has brought so much comfort, connection, and perspective into my life. I’ve always felt that my calling and purpose in life is to better the lives of young people, so combining that passion with literacy felt like a natural fit.

After being here for a few months, I’m continually inspired by the deep care that the Words Alive community brings to our work. It’s undeniable how much intention and heart our staff and volunteers put into creating programming that is joyful, empowering, and personal for young readers. Being part of that energy is incredibly motivating, and it gives me a lot of hope.

What surprised you about Words Alive?

Our organizational model has definitely been the biggest surprise to me. So much of what we do is powered by volunteers and community members, which is both rare and refreshing to see! As a community organizer, I’m inspired by the way volunteers, partners, teachers, youth, and families all come together to move this literacy movement forward.

There is something powerful about work being guided by the very people it serves. I feel grateful that I get to support this network of passionate community members by providing the resources, structure, and connection they need to create real change.

What do you like most about being a Program Coordinator?

Outside of being around volunteers, young readers, and the community, I’ve become obsessed with operations. I love the strategic, and sacred, process of transforming conceptual ideas and the moving pieces of our program into something physical that goes out into the hands of young readers, which is where our work with groups at weekly Where the Wild Books Are gatherings or our partnership days with organizations like iJuntos comes in. Seeing books and learning materials come together through teamwork, laughter, and music creates a spiritual feeling, combined with a tsunami of productivity that’s hard to capture in words! It’s incredibly fulfilling to carry that process from start to finish.

What books do you recommend?

That’s a tough question, but I would have to say The Broken Earth trilogy by N. K. Jemisin. Jemisin is an extraordinary storyteller. Her writing is imaginative and layered, with complex characters, rich world-building, and exhilaratingly unexpected twists. The series thoughtfully weaves in themes of systemic racism, environmental responsibility, and queer relationships in ways that are both powerful and deeply moving. It represents exactly what I love about speculative fiction.