Julian works for Milwaukee County Parks as a Community Engagement Coordinator. 

Julien joined Earn & Learn the summer before starting high school to prepare for finding a job when he turned 16. He also wanted to be able to buy cool clothes for the new school year and knew it would be hard for his mom to afford the expense.

Julien was placed at Hawthorne Glen removing invasive species and performing trail maintenance. The experience gave him early exposure to environmental stewardship and working outdoors, and he credits his ongoing passion for working in nature to his time in Earn & Learn.

“I’d recommend Earn & Learn to anyone in Milwaukee,” Julien said. “This can be a step to that next level in your journey.”

After pursuing different educational and professional paths, Julien is now a Community Engagement Coordinator with Milwaukee County Parks, where he works with neighborhood groups, volunteers, and community partners to connect residents with their local parks and support stewardship efforts across the park system. Last year he even coordinated park clean ups with Camp RISE to help campers give back to their community and spend time at their neighborhood parks!

“I want to make an impact and show people that come from here and look like me that you can actually live here and thrive here,” Julien said. “You can make a difference and there’s people that will support you and make sure that that happens.”

His current work comes full circle from his first job in Milwaukee's parks, helping care for Milwaukee’s beautiful natural spaces and engaging with the community. Julien was even awarded the Rising Star Award at the African American Environmental Pioneer Awards in 2025 for his work in the parks.