Meet Judie Levy | Teacher, Communications Director, Embodied Poet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Judie Levy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Judie, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Teaching college writing and literature, occasionally working in college administration, being the Director of Communications for the Virginia Highland District Association, and writing poetry on the side requires a lot of balance—but not in the way you might expect. Early in my PhD program, I had bad habits like working late and neglecting self-care, which made work eclipse what should have been my happier moments. Eventually, it took a toll on my mind-body, and I had to change the pace (and tempo).

However, I don’t think that there is such thing as completely compartmentalizing to separate work and life either. Instead, by attuning to my personal needs and contributing to my community, I strengthen my work. When I began to attend to my personal needs, I turned amateur dancing into a meditative hobby. What ended up happening was transformative: I could work through my writing through self-exploratory dance.

If I have writers block, I step away from the computer and dance through the blockage. I start by acknowledging where the emotion of blockage resides in my body. If I feel off balance, maybe I will dance in a way that appears unstable; if I have a headache, I might start by moving my hands to my head and tilting my head in various directions.

Eventually, something emerges by the end of my practice: some days it means a new idea; other days it is a break-through in self-understanding; sometimes, I have no revelation but still lighten my mood by translating my difficulty into a fun experience. I often dance alone at home so that I can pause, sit down, and write notes to myself about what I discover or experience. Later, these notes are brought back to my work-space, where I can unravel them into professional productions—whether it’s lesson plans, academic research, planning social media posts for the Virginia Highland District, or writing poetry.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career is built around two concepts that I find inextricably connected: vulnerability and connection. Writing (and teaching writing) might appear to be my forte, but it often emerges from things that challenge me. Embarking upon and completing a writing project requires vulnerability—both in the topics I write about and in the daunting task of putting pen to paper. But without people who dare to be vulnerable and share their world with others, we would not be able to foster beautiful connections between one another.

This is also why I study and teach literature: it is a space where we can share the strange, the terrible, and the lovely parts of life. Such sharing can break down perceived boundaries between people and, instead, build empathy and understanding.

Coming to this realization was not easy. When I started my PhD program at Emory, I had wild imposter syndrome (it’s so real and intense; for anyone else in graduate school, remember that you got there for a reason and that you deserve to be there!). In response, I became drawn to making friends and mentors who don’t intimidate me. After a while, I realized that the people who make you feel accepted (and therefore open to vulnerability) are naturally gifted community builders (connection makers).

Eventually, many of these people inspired me to put more time into creating community. As a result, I put my love for literary empathy into the spaces around me. In this sense, the work I do for the Virginia Highland District completes the work I have started in the college classroom: like writing and literature, I’m investing in civil action that bridges gaps and brings people together.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would give my friend a tour of all the community, food, and history that Atlanta has to offer. One day would be comprised of walking and biking around the city. We would start in the Highlands with some coffee and breakfast sandwiches at Kinship. Then we could go down the Beltline, stopping along the way at shops. We would also stop for a drink and snack at outdoor patios, such as Victory Sandwich Bar. We must eventually make our way down through Krog Street Tunnel so they can see all the fantastic murals on Wylie Street in Cabbagetown. Then, we would stop for an outdoor drink at Estoria, followed by a slider at Little’s. This would be exceptionally perfect if it were a day when outdoor pop-up markets are taking place, like the Georgia Vintage Goods market that is often in the Estoria parking lot.

On another day, we would have to take a food tour of Buford Highway, stopping at some of my favorites like Canton House, Paris Baguette, and Lee’s Bakery. We most definitely would also schedule a reflexology foot massage along the way.

Throughout the time that I have a visitor, I would also take them to see as much art and history as possible, including the High Museum of Art and the Martin Luther King National Historical Center. I also always love to take visitors to the Saturday Freedom Farmers Market, the Virginia Highland Farmers Market (when in season), and to the Dekalb Farmers Market for cooking supplies to make amazing delights at my house.

I would love to take my visitor to Piedmont Park, preferably while there is a festival like the Dogwood Festival, the Jazz Festival, or the Indigenous House Music festival. All of these festivals have amazing music, dancing, art, and a warm and welcoming community vibe.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout goes to the people around me who have drawn me into building uplifting communities together—at Emory and in Virginia Highland.

To my community at Emory, I’m thankful for my mentors who know how to challenge and inspire writers to work to their fullest by showing them they already have the tools within them (rather than making them feel deficient).

Another important shoutout goes to the entire board of directors for the Virginia Highland District Association, and especially to Katie Voelpel, the Executive Director. Katie’s leadership and ability to gather people together who love the neighborhood has inspired us to accomplish leaps and bounds beyond what we could imagine in our first year.

I only started teaching at Oglethorpe University this past fall, and I can already tell that there are many community builders there too—I can’t wait to start building with them too!

Website: http://judithtlevy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdovemovement/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-levy-phd-99805094/

Image Credits
Brittany Hester