Stories of Impact – SPARK!: Juliana Lozano
This Story of Impact highlights Juliana Lozano, a 2025 Spark Award Recipient. You can learn more about the Women’s Impact Fund Spark Awards here.
Tell us a little about yourself and what was happening in your life when you received the Spark Award.
When I received the Spark Award, I was in a season of constantly being on the go. I was working full-time as a medical social worker while also managing and growing Despierta, the nonprofit I founded, all while balancing motherhood and everything that came with those different roles.
I love the work that I do and truly feel that it is a calling on my life, but I had become so focused on serving others and growing Despierta that somewhere along the way, I stopped making as much space for myself. As women and mothers, and especially those of us in helping professions, I think it can become very natural to constantly think about what everyone else needs before asking ourselves what we need.
What did you use the funding for?
I used the Spark Award to invest in my mental and physical well-being, including a gym membership, and to get back to something I had always loved, which was traveling.
Growing up, my dad worked for US Airways, so I had the opportunity to travel a lot as a child. Traveling opened my eyes to how much more there was outside of where I lived. I loved experiencing different cultures, learning about their history, and seeing different parts of the world.
As I got older, became a mother, started my career, and eventually founded Despierta, traveling became something I stopped making time for. So much of my energy was going toward my family, my career, and growing the organization.
I used part of the Spark Award to travel to Egypt. I chose Egypt because I wanted to experience somewhere with so much history and culture, and I truly had the time of my life. It was incredible to stand in places and see historic sites that were built thousands of years ago. I got to climb part of the pyramids, ride four-wheelers through the desert, and experience a culture and history that I had only ever learned about from afar. It reminded me of why I had always loved traveling so much.
What did the award allow you to do that you otherwise might not have been able to do?
The award gave me the opportunity to intentionally invest in myself after spending so much of my time investing in everyone else.
My trip to Egypt reminded me how much I loved traveling and experiencing the world. It honestly restarted that part of my life. Since then, I have traveled to Japan, and later this year I will be traveling to Brazil. I am incredibly grateful because the Spark Award helped me reconnect with something that has always brought me so much joy.
Beyond the money itself, what did receiving the award mean to you?
Receiving the award meant so much to me. I have never done this work for recognition. I do it because I genuinely believe it is part of my purpose and calling.
What meant the most was feeling like someone was saying, “We see how much you pour into everyone else, and we want you to pour something back into yourself.” I think I needed that reminder at that point in my life.
It also reminded me that taking care of my own mental and physical well-being is important. I can be deeply committed to my family, my organization, and my community while still making space for myself.
Why was it important to you to join a WIF committee and what have you gained from being a WIF member?
I wanted to become more involved with Women’s Impact Fund because I didn’t want my relationship with WIF to simply be about receiving an award. I wanted to give back, build relationships, and be part of a community of women who are invested in making Charlotte stronger.
Being a member has given me the opportunity to connect with women I may not have otherwise crossed paths with, learn from their experiences, and continue expanding my own understanding of philanthropy and community impact. I really value being in spaces where women can learn from and support one another.
What would you want other WIF members to know about the difference Spark Awards make?
I think what makes the Spark Award so special is that it recognizes something we don’t talk about enough: the people doing the work need care too.
So much of our work in the nonprofit sector is focused on our programs, our outcomes, and the people we serve, as it should be. But behind that work are people who are constantly pouring into their communities.
The Spark Award gave me an opportunity to ask myself, “What do I need?” At that point in my life, I hadn’t really stopped to ask myself that question in a long time. For me, it meant investing in my mental and physical well-being and rediscovering something that brought me joy.
The impact of that has lasted far beyond the award itself, and I am incredibly grateful to Women’s Impact Fund for giving me that opportunity.
Learn more about Juliana—and all the 2025 Spark Award Recipients—here.
