June 2026 - Board Member Spotlight
Board Member Spotlight - Julie Snavely, Winner SD
What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of work and volunteering? My main interest at this time of my life is spending time with our four grandchildren and attending their many activities and events. I do love to garden and can all kinds of produce from my garden. This was something my mom taught me and brings back lots of special memories of her. I also love to travel with my husband to different parts of the US.
How did you first learn about CASA? I worked for Child Protection Services for over 30 years and during some of those years I also had the privilege of working with a CASA advocate. This is when I learned how valuable they were with the court process.
What impact do you hope Central SD CASA will have on our communities in the coming years? I hope CASA continues to grow throughout the 6th Judicial Circuit so every child can have a special voice in the court process.
What does being an advocate for children mean to you? Being an advocate for children means getting to know them, spending time with them and others involved with them so to give them a special voice on life decisions through the court proceedings. An advocate is a support person for each child that has experienced abuse or neglect.
If you could have dinner with any person, living or historical, who would it be and why? I would love to have dinner with my maternal grandmother, Estella. I never got to meet her as she passed away in 1940 from breast cancer when my mother was only 16 years old. She left behind three children ages 18, 16, and 10 years old. I would love to get to know her and see what traits she passed on to my mother. I see my mother in myself, and my sisters and I have always wondered if some of these came from my grandmother. Family is very important to me, and this has always been a missing link.
How can our community help ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive? All communities can help children by becoming involved with all children focused activities.
In one sentence, what does Central SD CASA mean to you? Central SD CASA means that all children will be given value and a voice within the court system to be heard regarding what is important in their lives.
