About Julia

Julia Craven is a lifelong creator, tracing her origins to the days spent on her great-grandmother's living room floor. From crafting vision boards to sketching magazine layouts and penning novellas, her innate creativity blossomed early. Today, she remains a passionate and empathetic storyteller, known for her meticulous attention to detail and willingness to call it like she sees it.

In 2019, Julia merged her personal health experiences with her professional acumen at Slate Magazine. With the first four years of her journalism career dedicated to the complex intersection of racism and politics at HuffPost, she recognized her evolving purpose—to delve thoughtfully into health and well-being, particularly within Black communities.

Currently serving as senior writer and editor at New America's Better Life Lab, Julia's expertise extends beyond her institutional roles. She’s a  freelance writer, editor, and consultant, channeling her insights into the multifaceted landscape of health. Notably, she spearheads Salt + Yams, a groundbreaking newsletter dedicated to cataloging Black health modalities, showcasing her commitment to amplifying marginalized narratives within the wellness sphere. Julia continues to carve her path as a luminary in journalism and health advocacy, enriching discourse and championing inclusivity every step of the way.

Professional Accomplishments

• Produced the first comprehensive investigative report into the health consequences of eviction on Black children alongside actionable solutions to mitigate the crisis.

• Authored “It’s Not Too Late to Save Black Lives,” selected for inclusion in the 2021 edition of Best American Science and Nature Writing.

• Persuaded the City of Orlando to remove part of a highway with “Even Breathing Is a Risk in One of Orlando’s Poorest Neighborhoods.”

• Work featured across national news media, including NPR, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Popular Science, The American Prospect, The New Republic, Mother Jones, Quibi, and Vice. Julia has also been a quest on several podcasts including Seizing Freedom, Vox’s The Weeds, Slate’s ICYMI, and Gimlet Media’s The Nod.

• Finalist for a 2021 Writers Guild Award for “This Week Has Happened Before.”