Julie Bivins
OSW Board Secretary
I moved back to Roanoke in August 2024. My husband and I both grew up in the Roanoke area and moved to Richmond, Virginia in 2012. After 10 years there, we decided to pursue a dream of living in the country in 2022. Though we very much loved our little plot of land in Pittsylvania County, with a big garden and nature all around us, we realized just how little access we had to other things we love, and we felt pretty isolated. So, as we contemplated yet another move, I kept thinking of Roanoke. We decided to narrow our options down to the Old Southwest neighborhood, as it seemed to connect with our desire to live in a walkable and diverse neighborhood, have a park nearby, and remain easily accessible to many things, including beautiful scenery and natural spaces in and surrounding Roanoke, as well as a local community of activism, arts, music, and food.
While getting settled here, I’ve felt a desire to be involved in the local community, and so I reached out when I heard about an opening on the Old Southwest Inc. board. I love a good project and look forward to working creatively with the rest of the board members to bring people together, support the community as a whole, and to celebrate the art/music/talents of our local area.
I enjoy spending my time gardening (and hope to transform my yard into a native plant habitat this year), being in nature/hiking, traveling, cooking, watching movies, listening to music, reading, and spending time with my husband and two dogs. Professionally, I am a therapist, and run my own private practice.