What better way to celebrate Women's History Month in Northern Nevada than with TWO amazing speakers in one meeting!

       

This month we will be joined by Julia Ratti and Jill Tolles who will talk with us about their journeys to becoming leaders in the Nevada legislature and lessons learned. 

Julia believes in making the world a better place. And she backs up that belief with action. Her experience in the nonprofit, government and for-profit sectors has provided Julia the opportunity to improve her community – professionally and through public service.

In her professional life, Julia is the Director of Programs and Projects for the Washoe County Health District where she oversees community health needs assessment and community health improvement planning, health equity initiatives, as well as accreditation activities and special projects for the health district.  

Julia’s public service includes serving in the Nevada Legislature as a State Senator where she was the Assistant Majority Leader and chaired the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. Julia focused her efforts on strengthening the social safety net for all Nevadans. She championed efforts to make sure insurance covers critical women’s preventative health services as well as protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions. She worked with housing advocates to increase access to affordable housing and protect tenants. Julia served as a State Senator for five years and prior to that served eight years on the Sparks City Council.

Jill Tolles has taught at the University of Nevada since 2005 where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication studies. She is also on the faculty of the National Judicial College where she teaches courtroom management, collaborative decision making and procedural fairness to judges from around the nation and the world.

She is currently finishing her third term as an Assemblywoman in the Nevada Legislature where she has served on the Education, Judiciary, Commerce and Labor and Ways and Means Committees.  Her passion for students, small businesses and the safety of our communities have led her to sponsor and pass legislation protecting children from abuse, cracking down on sex trafficking, prioritizing Nevada businesses in state purchasing contracts, and tackling mental health and substance abuse issues in our communities.

Jill has given back to the community by serving on numerous boards and commissions over the years.  She is currently an Education Alliance Board member, Vice Chair of the Attorney General’s Statewide Substance Use Response Working Group, Chair of the Northern Nevada Sex Trafficking Task Force, Living Stones Church Community Group Leader, Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow and FBI Citizen’s Academy Graduate.