Meet Jill Carey and Annie Warshaw

Jill and Annie are the co-founders of Mission Propelle, a  gender justice organization offering programs for all ages and identities. They offer after-school classes in partnership with more than 100 schools across Chicagoland, using yoga and reading to unlock girls' potential and mint allies in the fight for gender justice. Their newest program, Equity Consulting, proactively responds to the collapse of the care economy and the impending exodus of mothers from the workforce. By providing stage-specific support for moms along with equity-focused policy guidance for company leaders, Equity Consulting keeps moms on their career trajectories and preserves workforce productivity, retention, morale, and profits.

Q+A

What don’t people know about you?

Annie: My dream as a kid was to do a muppet voice and frankly, it's still an aspiration. 

Jill: I was the president  — and only girl — of the “Audio Visual Club” at my elementary school. It taught me that I had to work hard to be taken seriously in a male-dominated space. It also taught me that I shouldn’t devalue the feminine attributes I brought to the role just because the existing culture didn’t accept them. For instance, I loved using feminine, handwriting-style fonts in the morning announcements and using rainbow, splashy backgrounds. I took a lot of crap for this. But I could do tech, and I could be feminine, and didn’t have to choose one or the other.

What expression or saying do you love? (or which one do you hate?)

Annie: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation and that is an act of political warfare." – Audre Lorde

I make it a priority to sleep in once a week, exercise 4 times a week and do things that fill me up. I am a busy lady but these are a priority to me because I know that when I am in a good place, I can create, be present for my kids, be a respectful partner  and do social justice work. We as women, especially moms,  are taught that the more we suffer, the better a parent or woman we are. This is bullshit. While women burry themselves in guilt, men are making moves for power and building careers. If we want radical change, giving women the space to take care of themselves is necessary.

Jill: I hate the saying “Everything is going to be okay.” This phrase often papers over the great difficulties people face. It comforts the person delivering the message and instills shame in the one experiencing loss or suffering (i.e. “If everyone else is fine, what’s wrong with me?”). There is a place in life for what psychologists call ambiguous loss — for hardships that do not end in closure. It’s okay to not be okay. It’s also okay to not accept what is “okay” for others — especially when their comfort means your oppression.

Who do you admire?
Annie: Gloria Steinem! At the ripe ol’ age of 86 Gloria is still changing the world through her humility, kindness, and activism. She understood the necessity of  using her privilege to include  BIPOC women during the second wave of feminism. She continues to fight for all women because her humility has permitted her to see clearly where the shortcomings of the movement are.  Years ago, I was at an event with her and someone asked her, “Who do you think you will pass your torch to?” Gloria responded, “First, who said I want to pass my torch? Second, I don't want one person to have it, I want to use my torch to light so many other torches.”

Jill: I admire Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President. She has advocated for progressive reforms since her childhood, tackling issues such as living wages and affordable housing. One interesting fact about President Preckwinkle is that she didn’t get elected for an office until the age of 44. Before that, she lost two aldermanic elections and spent nearly a decade off and on the campaign trail. She reminds me that there’s really no rush to accomplish your dreams—the idea of a “closing window” is a false notion. It’s possible to be an empowered change-maker your entire life, regardless of your season, station, or sex. President Preckwinkle recently pointed out, “We raise our boys differently. They are encouraged to be risk-takers. We need to teach girls to be assertive, to be risk takers.“

Who is your favorite character?

Annie: Lately I am drawn to shows that reflect a diverse range of voices that speak to the complexity of being a teenager. PEN15 and Never Have I Ever amplify the magic that is teenage girls and I find it refreshing to watch. 

Jill: My favorite character is my Maeve in West World. Witty, relentless, principled, self-possessed, and fundamentally human.

What is your hidden talent?

Annie: When my kids are screaming their brains out and tantruming I become quite zen and can listen and respond in a calm, quiet voice. Even when the tantrum lasts an hour plus, I can stay present. I am not great at staying present most of the time but when it comes to my kids and their emotional well-being, my empathy and patience are boundless. 

Jill: My hidden talent is listening. This is truly a hidden talent, because nobody’s ever like, "Look at that young woman! The one right there! She is doing some impressive listening!” But in all seriousness, I’m good at giving my full attention to people and really soaking up their words and body language. This also makes me strangely intuitive; I have a strong track record of knowing people’s needs and meeting them before they even surface.

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