Brookdale Alumna Julie Flores-Castillo Honored with Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award

Julie Flores-Castillo, a dedicated immigrant rights advocate from Red Bank and an alumna of Brookdale Community College, has been named a recipient of the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award, one of New Jersey’s most prestigious honors for public service. She will be recognized at a ceremony on May 9, 2025, at Ramapo College for her commitment to empowering undocumented youth and creating change through education and activism.

Flores-Castillo earned her Associate of Arts in Political Science from Brookdale in Spring 2024, where she was named to the Dean’s List every semester. She is now continuing her education through the Rutgers University–Brookdale partnership program, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

Her journey as an activist began at age 14, when her father was deported. Struggling with the trauma and isolation that followed, she found purpose and community in her high school’s immigrant advocacy group, RBR Dreamers. She first learned about lobbying there and traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for immigration reform. Sharing her personal story with policymakers for the first time, Julie realized the power of testimony to spark empathy and change.

“I never really knew how to speak up for myself until that moment,” she recalled. “But I got to speak up for my dad, too, because he wasn’t there to speak for himself. His daughter was still here to raise awareness.”

Julie quickly became a leader, growing her high school’s Dreamers club from 10 to over 70 members and organizing voter registration drives, rallies, and educational workshops. At Brookdale, she served as president of Dreamers+, where she continued her work with students and counselors to raise awareness about resources available to undocumented youth, including access to in-state tuition and occupational licensing.

“Julie is an exceptional student—curious, articulate, and intellectually driven,” said Brookdale history professor Dr. Ashley Zampogna-Krug, who advised her in both the classroom and as faculty advisor to Dreamers+. “Her ability to draw connections between personal experience, historical context, and community organizing is remarkable. She inspires everyone around her.”

Professor Jane Scimeca, who taught Julie in Women’s History, echoed that sentiment. “In addition to her exceptional academic performance, she has the heart and vision of a true activist. Julie isn’t just studying political science—she’s living it,” Scimeca said. “I’ll never forget when she approached me about running for a local school board seat while still a student. She wasn’t talking about ‘someday’—she meant now. That’s when I realized she had already chosen her path as a community leader and change-maker.”

In addition to the Russ Berrie award, Julie has received a Senate Resolution from New Jersey Senator Vin Gopal and the Community Activist Award from the Red Bank Municipal Committee. She was also part of the inaugural Emerging Leaders for Liberation program by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), where she collaborated with other young leaders to expand outreach and college access for undocumented students across New Jersey.

Now at Rutgers, Julie remains committed to creating safe, empowering spaces for immigrant youth. “It means so much to be able to tell students that there is a future for them after high school,” she said. “That they belong here—and they have the power to shape what comes next.”