Author: Bridget Munger
For Black History Month, the Department of Public Safety is spotlighting employees who have gone above and beyond – either through their job or in their free time – to support COVID-19 safety and healing in their communities. Find more inspiring stories here.
Director of Business Systems and Reporting Julendia Gaillard joined NCORR about 18 months ago as the next step in a career that includes more than 40 years of IT development, management and teaching.
Last fall, when NCORR was tasked with setting up the HOPE rent and utility assistance program, Gaillard designed a back-end business system that provides the framework for day-to-day program operations. Understanding the critical needs of people suffering hardship due to the pandemic, she put in countless long days, nights and weekends to accomplish this quickly.
Gaillard continues to work tirelessly to support HOPE Program operations by day and often serves as a de facto IT help desk for HOPE community partners after hours.
“At the end of the day, I know I’m helping a North Carolina citizen stay safe at home with a roof over their head,” said Gaillard. “That is what motivates me.”
A highly skilled quilter, she also worked last year with a volunteer organization to sew over 300 face masks for Raleigh area hospitals as part of frontline efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.