EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. — The Excelsior Springs Business Women of Missouri has named Julia Mees as the 2025 recipient of its Community Activist Award. The annual honor recognizes local leaders who dedicate their efforts to improving the lives of community members through advocacy, service, and leadership.
Mees was selected for her outstanding work as director of Excelsior Springs SAFE (Substance Abuse Free Environments), a local coalition aimed at reducing substance abuse among youth. The coalition was launched in 2015 after the community was awarded a federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant, and under Mees’s leadership has grown into a vital part of the community’s youth service network.
Her efforts have led to long-term funding for SAFE, enabling a consistent platform for professionals to collaborate, share data, and stay informed about state and national trends. The coalition frequently brings issues of statewide and national importance to the local level, ensuring that Excelsior Springs leaders have the tools and knowledge to support youth and their families.
“Julia leads with both heart and intention,” said Kristen DeHart, CEO of Excelsior Springs Hospital and longtime colleague. “In her role with Excelsior Springs SAFE, she takes big challenges and turns them into meaningful progress, always focused on protecting our kids and supporting families. I learn something new every time we work together. Our community is better because she shows up, listens, and acts on what needs attention.”
Mees has helped local leaders attend prevention conferences across the country and bring back best practices, new ideas, and innovative resources to serve the community. She also initiated the Strengthening Families Program, a multi-week workshop that helps families build stronger communication and relationships. Program participants often describe feeling more connected and confident as a result.
In addition to her work with SAFE, Mees volunteers her time with several local organizations, including the Good Samaritan Center, Excelsior Springs Community Center, Excelsior Springs Hospital, and the Excelsior Springs Chamber of Commerce. She played a key role in helping DeHart write the grant that established the hospital’s Behavioral Health Department, another vital resource for area families.
She has also contributed to local policy changes, including the Tobacco 21 initiative, which raised the minimum age for tobacco and nicotine purchases to 21. Her advocacy has supported safe medication disposal, Narcan distribution at local pharmacies, and homeless outreach.
Mees is also a recipient of the Champions of Change for Prevention Award from ACT Missouri, a statewide organization that promotes awareness about alcohol and drug use.
Her award presentation came as a surprise, delivered just before the November SAFE coalition meeting at Excelsior Springs Hospital. Members of the committee she leads were present for the announcement.
“We are blessed that Julia chose Excelsior Springs to be the place of her work,” said Courtney Cole, president of the Excelsior Springs Business Women of Missouri. “The work that she’s doing for families is invaluable, and we are truly a better community thanks to her.”
Mees now joins a list of past Community Activist Award recipients that includes Kristen DeHart, Martha Buckman, Lyndsey Baxter, Melinda Mehaffy, Molly McGovern, Daphne Bowman, and Evelyn Cowsert.
The Business Women of Missouri, founded in 1919 and rechartered in 2010, works to achieve equity for women in the workplace through advocacy, education, and information. The Excelsior Springs chapter has been active since 1939.
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