Julian Velarde is the Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at the Orange County Fire Authority. He is passionate about fostering an inclusive environment through strategic DE&I planning and community engagement. Prior to his work in the Fire Authority, his decades-long career in higher education cemented his ability to create safe and engaging spaces for students to feel a deeper sense of belonging. Julian speaks to his childhood experiences of being raised in a foster family and then an adoptive family as crucial experiences for him to embrace others and cultivate gratitude. Through his personal experiences of disruption and navigating change, he expresses his commitment to supporting people to grow from new possibilities and respect diversity. Julian also brings in his own Christian beliefs and values to understand what his mission is to contribute to society as a global citizen.