Our Story

The History of Julie’s Dream

Julie’s Dream is the realization of Julie Muir Harlan’s vision to create opportunities for Atlanta’s children to experience the joy of outdoor adventure and the beauty of the God’s creation. Julie was raised in Atlanta and graduated from The Lovett School and Wake Forest University. After moving with her husband, Chad, to Atlanta in 2004, she joined the Novare Group, ultimately becoming its Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. Her gracious and thoughtful nature infiltrated her work life, where she was instrumental in creating and championing Novare’s community service days, Bible studies, and social outings. Her desire to share God’s love and serve others was boundless. She was devoted to her prayer life, earnestly worked to deepen her faith and make a difference in the community.

Julie especially loved the Agape Youth and Family Center (which eventually became the first Julie’s Dream partner), and her family served dinner there every other week for several years. She had a profound love for learning, respect for all people, and a wonderful sense of adventure. She instilled a love of travel and the outdoors in her boys, Charlie and Smith, the lights of her world.

After a life-changing trip to Mt. Rainier with Chad, Julie was inspired to create an organization to take at-risk and under-resourced Atlanta youth out west to experience the joy of mountaineering and the beauty of the wilderness. In late 2016, Julie started the process of forming a yet-to-be-named nonprofit organization with the goal of an early 2018 launch date. She continued this work even after her cancer diagnosis.  She was driven by the hope and joy she knew these children would reap by experiencing God’s amazing creation and challenging themselves in new ways. She knew the confidence and spiritual learnings that would result from these adventures would forever impact their young lives. Then in 2017, Julie lost her battle with cancer.

Determined to carry her dream forward, Chad continued the founding work and named the new organization “Julie’s Dream” in her honor.    Julie’s Dream has served the youth of Atlanta since 2018, and within its first five years of operation, served over 500 youth with life-changing outdoor programs.  Julie’s amazing legacy continues to impact over 200 youth each year through outdoor adventure and time in nature.

A message from Chad Harlan, Co-Founder of Julie’s Dream

After her 2017 cancer diagnosis, Julie and I brainstormed about a potential name for this new venture. Her eyes positively lit up when we talked about it. The vision of making her idea a reality gave her additional incentive to fight her cancer battle. As she said many, many times, “God is good ALL the time.” She clung to two wooden crosses, one in each hand representing both of our sons, until the moment she went to heaven. We never had the chance to decide on a name for our organization, but her resolve to get this idea off the ground remained true to the end of her time here on Earth. It was (and is) yet another example of a seed she planted, another opportunity for us to make good out of bad, and to finish the GREAT work she was doing during her life. As was illustrated in Julie’s life and well-documented at her memorial service, she had planted seeds EVERYWHERE! Julie was a HUGE thinker with amazing vision.

Our family has made it our firm intention to relentlessly pursue blessings out of the darkness of Julie’s passing. That is what Julie would have done. Galatians 6:9 was one of our most beloved verses: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” The harvest in life for Julie was not material or financial – it was drawing nearer to Christ, serving others, and improving lives spiritually, practically, and relationally. For all of us, the harvest is the natural time of reaping in joy what has been produced during the year. For Julie, the harvest was always measured in impact.

And so with God’s help and direction, it has become our family’s honor, duty, and privilege to carry all of Julie’s good works to completion and to carry the torch of her legacy wherever His path leads us. I am so proud that our sons, Charlie and Smith, are also continuing Julie’s legacy in their work with Julie’s Dream. We know God’s light and Julie’s radiant smile are both beaming on us as we continue to bring Julie’s Dream to life and witness the impact it makes.

With gratitude,
Chad Harlan