Connected & Curious with Andy

A Conversation That Connects: Storytelling, Community, and Advocacy


Listen Later

 Episode title and number:  A Conversation That Connects: Storytelling, Community, and Advocacy with Julie Grutzmacher  2-#3 

In this episode, Julie Grutzmacher shares her inspiring journey within Prevent Blindness, highlighting the transformative power of storytelling in advocacy and community building. Discover how her background in social work and public health fuels her passion for creating inclusive spaces and empowering individuals with vision loss.

Bullet points of key topics & timestamps: 
00:00  - Introducing Julie Gritzmacher and her work at Prevent Blindness  
04:42 - The origins of Julie’s passion for storytelling and community impact 
09:04 - Building the innovative storytelling program from scratch 
16:42 - Memorable moments that affirm Julie’s purpose  
21:56 - What the blind and visually impaired community has taught Julie 
26:02 - Detailed overview of the Aspect Program and advocacy training  
30:09 - Current and upcoming program initiatives, including the 2026 Capitol Hill event  
36:49 - How sighted allies can support and get involved  
42:24 - Resources & upcoming content on mental wellness for vision loss  
47:38 - How to connect with Julie for more information and collaboration  

Julie's Bio: 
Julie Grutzmacher, MSW, MPH, is the Senior Director of patient advocacy and population health initiatives at Prevent Blindness.  She was instrumental in establishing the ASPECT patient engagement program, which trains the visually impaired and blind community and their allies to be storytellers and advocates for change. She is dedicated to creating a space where diverse perspectives can be heard, and individuals are empowered to discover and use their voices for advocacy.  

Resources & Links:

  • Living Well with Low Vision website
  • Prevent Blindness

Connect with Julie Grutzmacher:

Remember, building awareness starts with understanding and empathy. Join Julie and others in shaping a more inclusive future by sharing stories, asking questions, and supporting community-driven initiatives. 

 Connect with Bold Blind Beauty to learn more about our advocacy:

  • Join our Instagram community @BoldBlindBeauty/
  • Subscribe to our YouTube channel @BoldBlindBeauty
  • Check out our website www.boldblindbeauty.com/

 Thanks for listening!❤️ 

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Connected & Curious with AndyBy Stephanae