Julia Willebrand
Encyclopedia
Julia Willebrand is an environmental, peace and education activist and was the Green Party
nominee for the office of Comptroller of the State of New York
in the 2006 New York state elections
.
, and currently resides in Manhattan
.
She has been active in New York City local government as a member of the Manhattan Citizens' Solid Waste Advisory Board from 1994 to 1999 and as Chair of that board 1997 to 1999. Concurrently, she served as a member of the steering committee of the She is also a past chair of both the Solid Waste Committee of the NYC Sierra Club and the International Working Group of the Green Party USA.
Willebrand has several higher degrees including an Ed.D in English as a Second Language
and an MA in Adult Education from Teachers College, Columbia University
and a BA in American Studies
from the City College of New York
. As a public school teacher in the 1960s she was a delegate in her union, the United Federation of Teachers
and was active in bringing the UFT to an anti-war position against the war in Vietnam
. She subsequently taught as an Assistant Professor of English studies
in the Empire State College
, Center for Labor Studies, and as a Fulbright Professor to Hungary.
She was the 2001 Green Party nominee for Mayor of New York, coming in fourth in that election with 7,155 votes, just behind Alan G. Hevesi, who ran as the Liberal Party
candidate.
Willibrand campaigned on sustainable investments
. Willebrand believes that turning the direction of those investments toward wise-growth can translate to positive economic change nationally and internationally. Willebrand has said that she will look to the Government Pension Fund of Norway
as a model of sustainable socially responsible investment, stating that she "...will use the power of the Comptroller as sole trustee of $115 billion in retirement investments as an instrument of peace, joining other states efforts to end the genocide in Darfur by divesting
from companies doing business in Sudan."
Green Party of New York
The Green Party of New York is a ballot-qualified political party in New York, which was founded in 1992. It is a part of the national Green Party movement...
nominee for the office of Comptroller of the State of New York
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
in the 2006 New York state elections
New York Comptroller election, 2006
The 2006 New York Comptroller Election took place on November 7, 2006 with the incumbent, Alan Hevesi winning against Republican challenger Chris Callaghan. Hevesi was plagued by scandals during the campaign involving misuse of state funds...
.
Biography
Julia was born in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, and currently resides in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
She has been active in New York City local government as a member of the Manhattan Citizens' Solid Waste Advisory Board from 1994 to 1999 and as Chair of that board 1997 to 1999. Concurrently, she served as a member of the steering committee of the She is also a past chair of both the Solid Waste Committee of the NYC Sierra Club and the International Working Group of the Green Party USA.
Willebrand has several higher degrees including an Ed.D in English as a Second Language
English language learning and teaching
English as a second language , English for speakers of other languages and English as a foreign language all refer to the use or study of English by speakers with different native languages. The precise usage, including the different use of the terms ESL and ESOL in different countries, is...
and an MA in Adult Education from Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College, Columbia University is a graduate school of education located in New York City, New York...
and a BA in American Studies
American studies
American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban...
from the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
. As a public school teacher in the 1960s she was a delegate in her union, the United Federation of Teachers
United Federation of Teachers
The United Federation of Teachers is the labor union that represents most educators in New York City public schools. , there were about 118,000 in-service educators and 17,000 paraprofessionals in the union, as well as about 54,000 retired members...
and was active in bringing the UFT to an anti-war position against the war in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. She subsequently taught as an Assistant Professor of English studies
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
in the Empire State College
Empire State College
Empire State College, one of the thirteen arts and science colleges of the State University of New York, is a multi-site institution offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. It is primarily oriented towards the adult learner...
, Center for Labor Studies, and as a Fulbright Professor to Hungary.
She was the 2001 Green Party nominee for Mayor of New York, coming in fourth in that election with 7,155 votes, just behind Alan G. Hevesi, who ran as the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of New York
The Liberal Party of New York is a minor American political party that has been active only in the state of New York. Its platform supports a standard set of social liberal policies: it supports right to abortion, increased spending on education, and universal health care.As of 2007, the Liberal...
candidate.
2006 Comptroller campaign
In 2006, Willebrand was nominated by the Green Party as their candidate for Comptroller. In the race for Comptroller, she is once again opposed by Hevesi, as the incumbent. Hevesi's admission of some wrongdoing in using state employees for family and personal services has resulted in a loss of support and stimulated interest in Willebrand's campaign. Critics of Hevesi and past Comptrollers hold that the historical mismanagement of these investments has garnered pollution, looting of regions, pension losses and even wars.Willibrand campaigned on sustainable investments
Socially responsible investing
Socially responsible investing , also known as sustainable, socially conscious, or ethical investing, describes an investment strategy which seeks to consider both financial return and social good....
. Willebrand believes that turning the direction of those investments toward wise-growth can translate to positive economic change nationally and internationally. Willebrand has said that she will look to the Government Pension Fund of Norway
The Government Pension Fund of Norway
The Government Pension Fund of Norway comprises two entirely separate sovereign wealth funds owned by the Government of Norway:* The Government Pension Fund - Global...
as a model of sustainable socially responsible investment, stating that she "...will use the power of the Comptroller as sole trustee of $115 billion in retirement investments as an instrument of peace, joining other states efforts to end the genocide in Darfur by divesting
Divestment
In finance and economics, divestment or divestiture is the reduction of some kind of asset for either financial or ethical objectives or sale of an existing business by a firm...
from companies doing business in Sudan."