ABOUT JUDY
Always looking for a good story
Judy has a particular passion for exploring stories focused on family (especially the dysfunctional types), community, race and social change…which means she never has a shortage of material.
Her work, primarily essays and short stories, have appeared in a variety of publications including USA Today, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, National Public Radio (NPR) and several small literary magazines---all which have given her the confidence to keep plugging away.
Judy’s work has been recognized by Hedgebrook, a women’s writers’ retreat on Whidbey Island in Washington State, where she was awarded two transformative residencies and experienced firsthand the power of women authoring change. A native of Alexandria, Virginia (before it was a tourist destination), in 2013, Judy was inducted in the Alexandria African American Hall of Fame in recognition of her writing and commitment to social change.
PHOTO GALLERY
RECENT WORK
SEE JUDY PERFORMING HEr WORK IN HOLLYWOOD
Matrix Theatre, LA
Leading Lessons: A Foundation CEO's Reflections on Pushing the Status Quo
Inside Philanthropy
What’s a grandmother to do when her grandchild lives far away?
Los Angeles Times
WHAt NAOMI WANTED
Pink Panther Magazine
MORNING WALK
Untenured
Reparations: Yes or no? My family’s dilemma
Los Angeles Times
Why Black Folks Are In Such High Demand As TV Weather Forecasters
Still: The Journal
Judy’s life’s work has been grounded in the field of philanthropy. She recently served as President and CEO of The California Wellness Foundation for nine years, has been a frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times op/ed pages and other national media outlets. She writes frequently on social change, the art of giving and the nonprofit sector.
She currently serves on the Hedgebrook board and she’s a former board member of the Surdna Foundation, Marlborough School for Girls, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California, the Ms. Foundation for Women and The Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
Judy is a graduate of Northwestern University and California State University, East Bay.
She currently resides in Los Angeles.
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“Judy Belk is a phenomenal writer. I have had the joy of working with her for several years as a member of my master’s level narrative class, and an editing client. Judy has a unique ability to translate her remarkable life into timely and provocative essays, transporting the reader into time and place and person in such a profound way that we feel the story as much as read it. We are a part of it. It is a gift for all of us lucky enough to find her work on an op-ed page, NPR, a magazine, website, or here, on her own page. You are in for a treat.”
See more of Judy's Published Work
INTERVIEWS & PROFILES
JUDY’S LATEST INTERVIEWS ARE HERE!
INTERVIEW: Alexandria unveils historic marker honoring ‘The Minnie Howard Five’
Members of the Belk and Bradby families joined public officials to cut the ribbon on the new historic marker at Alexandria, VA elementary school.
podcast: WE CAN’T ACHIEVE SOCIAL CHANGE WITHOUT GOOD COMMUNICATIONS: IN CONVERSATION WITH JUDY BELK
Cause Communications Founder Chris Hershey catches up with Judy Belk,
PODCAST: CONVERSATIONS WITH CHANDA: Navigating Place and Space with Judy belk
Join Chanda Smith Baker in a conversation with Judy Belk, as they discuss the power of place and its impact on health and wellness. Belk shares her journey of growing up in the segregated South, the injustices she faced, and how it shaped her commitment to justice and philanthropy.
podcast: Foundation Source Presents: Redefining the term ‘Philanthropist’
Why anyone—no matter the background—can be a ‘philanthropist,’ and how Judy’s personal experience with philanthropic support drives her work today
podcast: heart of giving Part One & part two
A two-part discussion about how acts of giving and service have the power to positively impact the lives of people around the world.
interview: cambridge associates, client spotlight: the california wellness foundation
“We’re committed to managing our assets in a way that demonstrates that you can ‘do good and make money.” - Judy Belk
tribute: Coro’s 2021 Gala - Judy Belk, Crystal Eagle Award Honoree
The Crystal Eagle Awards Gala celebrates outstanding leaders who exemplify excellence in effective leadership and dynamic community involvement.
INTERview: 2020-21 Northwestern Alumni Medal Judy Belk ’75
The Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University.
performance: spoken word performance in hollywood, ca
Watch Judy perform her piece The Dutch Surprise at the Matrix Theatre in Hollywood, CA.
interview: PEak Grantmaking: Becoming an Authentic Leader: A conversation with Judy Belk
Judy Belk, in conversation with Christine Essel of Southern California Grantmakers, discusses her personal philosophy on leadership and the skills needed to be an authentic leader.
INTERVIEW: Reinvent the Wheel: How Top Leaders Leverage Well-Being for Success
The book features an exclusive interview with Judy Belk and other well-being fueled "Exceptional Executives," CEOs, founders and entrepreneurs who master and leverage these different aspects of well-being, and consistently show up in breakout mode.
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