Julia Gabor
Mindful Founder
kid-grit
Costa Mesa, CA USA
“I don’t ever want a kid to feel the way I felt. I don’t need to change the whole world, I just want kids to see themselves as valuable folks.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationJulia Gabor
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
Raised by artist parents in New York City, I learned early on the value of self-expression and resilience.
At age 11, I was given my own space—without much parental supervision or guidance, I started engaging in a lot of high-risk behaviors.
I moved out of the city for college, and while I didn’t particularly enjoy the college experience, I stayed and earned my bachelor’s degree in theater arts with minors in technical theater and dance.
I decided that I wanted to use my experience and education to help other kids learn how to express themselves through improvisation and theater games, all while pursuing acting in New York City.
After about 10 years, I moved to California aiming for stardom, but found my true calling in youth development.
I started volunteering in South Los Angeles, connecting deeply with my roots and the community’s needs.
I joined the Tiger Woods Foundation at age 36—it was my first stable job and the first time I felt that sort of relief and security.
I continued to build my career in youth development, ultimately co-founding kid-grit whose mission is to equip educators and students with the tools needed for success.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Graduate
Educational Leadership and Change
Antioch University Los Angeles
Educational Leadership and Change
Antioch University Los Angeles
Career
Mindful Founder
I craft learning experiences, weaving creativity and holistic health into education's fabric.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Entrepreneurship
Teaching / Mentoring
Day to Day
Days vary when building an education start up. If at the home office, I'll do Zoom meetings, answer emails, or do a Zoom interactive professional learning workshop for schools or afterschool programs across the nation. If on the road, my days look like six-hour training sessions, building and supports requests for culture improvements in schools or for non-profit organizations, skipping across states on airplanes, and hustling at conferences to inspire future partners to work with kid-grit.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
Following your passion is much more gratifying than doing what you think you are supposed to do according to someone else's plans.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Society in General:
"You need to follow a predetermined formula for success: go to college, get a job, get married, find success."
Challenges I Overcame
Family Stress
Interviewed By
Education's Future: Measuring Student Success
Education's Future: Measuring Student Success
