Kimberly Howard Wade

Julie Fucking Mancini was a force of nature. If you ever got a chance to meet her or share a space with her, then you felt the electric contagion of her energy. She made you want to go out and change the world just by being in her presence. She was a consummate art supporter who would host dinner parties that had candy strewn down the center of the table, as the centerpiece/dessert. She adored Sojourn theater from the moment she attended our first ever breakfast fundraiser/performance. She gave us $5,000 . I remember that because it was huge, at the time, and it was very early in our development as a company. It was true patronage. She remained one of our biggest fans, speaking of Sojourn and our work with a full heart as recently as August 2021, when she attended my bridal shower and showered the us all with stories of me. That was Julie. I'm mad at her for leaving this life too soon. I'm so grateful to her for all the times she cheered me on - to take the interview, to advocate for big things and to embrace being a leader - "don't let anyone keep you from shining," she would say. Ok, Julie, who led like a blaze of fire. Ok. Here goes.