Interview: Jellie Duckworth - Founder of KC Acts
We like to take time to highlight women we see out in the world doing their part to make the world a little nicer. In this Real Nice Lady Spotlight, we’re talking to Jellie Duckworth, Founder of KC Acts, about bouncing forward instead of bouncing back.
Job Title/Profession
Founder of KC Acts
Favorite Drink?
Coffee with honey, cinnamon and a dash of oat milk. (I am not high-maintenance at all ;) )
Favorite Food?
Fruit! All kinds, every day.
Karaoke Song?
Forget About Dre by Dr. Dre & Eminem... my fam knows every word haha.
What song are you listening to on repeat right now?
Scottie Bean by Freddie Gibbs, The Alchemists & Rick Ross | This album slaps!
Female icon you would be for Halloween?
Amy Winehouse
Telling as little or as much as you want, how are you feeling these days?
I am feeling very grateful. Since the pandemic hit, I was immediately aware of my privilege and am very fortunate to be able to use it to give back to communities in need. Honestly, I am an introvert at heart so I have enjoyed this time to be able to learn and read. I feel like I have gotten closer to my family and friends, too, out of appreciation for the love and support they constantly give me. Yeah, I am very very grateful. Though, I want to be honest and say there have been hard times, too.
What part(s) of your life during the pandemic have made you rethink your "normal" life?
Hmm...what is normal life? I think the pandemic has made me look more inward, and with that I began to ask myself bigger questions. What is my mission/purpose? What kind of world do I want to help create? How will I fulfill that? What do I value most? What kind of person do I want to be? I felt like I wasn't doing enough to make the impact I envisioned for myself.
You come across as someone who is able to frequently reflect on your life and your current path and stay self-aware of your contribution to the community, which I think a lot of people struggle with. Is this how you’ve always been or was this learned over your life up to this point?
Yes, I have always been super introspective. I started writing poetry at 7 years old, processing my thoughts with myself. I have always been an empath, too. I have actually had to learn how to be a little more selfish and think about what serves me rather than over-giving all the time. Figuring out how to balance your needs and the needs of others is a daily practice, so I don't want to make it sound easy or that I was "born this way." It does not always mean that I am certain of where I am at; actually most times I have no idea. In fact, I can be over-analytical of myself sometimes! Haha and that's not good either. For those who feel like they aren't good at it I'd say there's not a right or wrong way, but it begins when you are comfortable enough to press "restart" every single day.
What first attracted you to your current profession?
When the pandemic hit, I saw organizations struggling to shift their priorities/resources to marginalized communities who are the most vulnerable to the pandemic's impact (physically, financially and mentally). It started just as a call to action (via a video I posted to social media), then expanded into the distribution of any resource of need to our marginalized communities. In that process, I recognized providing healthy food options wasn't just a need, but there was also a distribution problem getting to communities most at risk.
What is your favorite thing about your industry? Your least favorite?
My favorite thing about my initiative is that I get to work on the ground level in providing healthy produce to the most marginalized communities. My least favorite thing is that I am simply donating the produce when I would rather set up a business model that promotes solidarity for the community, so they can be self-sustaining without any outer resources. I am currently drafting those models now.
If an average Kansas Citian wants to support your initiative or any initiative to get healthy produce to these overlooked communities, where would you suggest they start?
If someone new wants to support KC Acts, I say they start by reaching out to me directly! Or they can go to the website and Give Back by offering to volunteer. I really need help with distribution, but with that comes building relationships and, most importantly, trust with the communities I work with. So they gotta be down with that :)
What can our community be doing to help reduce this issue of healthy food lacking in certain communities?
Hmm... that is a good question. How can our communities help reduce this issue? Get involved. Supporting with your dollar is vital, supporting by spreading the word on social media is needed too. But understanding how to reduce the issue relies on action. Go to the places. Listen to the people. It's like mitigating language barriers. You can try to just learn the language, but if you don't try to immerse yourself in their culture you're going to have a limited way of reducing the language barrier. To mitigate the issue, you gotta first understand what it is. It starts by getting involved.
What do you want for the future of your industry?
I want to create a business model that promotes a circular economy at the hyper-local level (meaning generating income for communities to revitalize and invest in themselves), and this depends on creating a model where the community can become self-sustaining without the help of charity or any outer resources.
What have you learned about yourself over the course of founding KC ACTS?
I have learned many things about myself since I started KC Acts, but the most catalytic lesson has been: I can create the change I want in the world with something that is aligned with my assets and values. I haven't ever been in a position where those aligned before, but it is 100% possible for me, which means I know it's 100% possible for others. You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to start. It'll come with patience. A lot of patience haha.
What advice would you give other women trying to succeed in your industry?
Two things: Just start. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and I began on the premise of self-doubt. If you delay, you'll let that self-doubt take over rather than let it fuel you to begin. Also, regardless of what you may see on social media, nobody builds a business/initiative alone. I have a lot of help and support and that has been the backbone of my confidence moving forward. So ask for help.
What was a formative moment in your life that made you who you are?
I left a relationship that was toxic where I had put myself on the back-burner for so long. But it's less of a formative "moment" and more of a formative process. It reminded me that intentional self-work/self-discipline is my greatest power that no one can take away from me. I didn't bounce back, I bounced forward. The habits I learned in the process are fundamental tools for living a life that fulfills me.
When do you feel the strongest in your life? When do you feel the most vulnerable in your life?
My strength is what makes me vulnerable. Isn't that all of us? I am strongest when I am able to empathize with someone, put myself in their shoes and understand them without judgment. I am most vulnerable when I open up too much, aware that there is a possibility of me being taken advantage of or taken for granted.
What have you been doing to maintain your mental health since the pandemic hit?
Well, I have always been super reflective so I journal frequently. I've been reading, listening to podcasts, working out, checking-in with my girls, watching documentaries, and eating healthy (very important!) - just really being intentional on the things that serve me. Genuinely, I really needed this time for myself to figure out what I like, what I want and what I need without the immediacy with others' opinions. So allowing myself to explore myself, without pressure, has been necessary for my mental health.
Who are five women that inspire you?
That is hard to narrow down, to be honest. I don't even think I could narrow it down to a top five.
I think the question should be, what inspires you in a woman? I'm inspired by woman who challenge themselves to be uncomfortable, are life-long learners, are bold but humble (what I like to call kind and tough), have integrity, express self-respect, to listen like they don't know and to speak like they do know, have empathy, are authentic and, most importantly, raise other women up - no matter who they are.
Just to list a few women in my life: Rosalie Duckworth (my grandmother), Silvia Duckworth (my mom), Dr. Shannon Jackson (my first anthropology teacher), Miranda Schultz (my best friend), Jean Irvin (a close friend), Emily Blessing (a best friend) and Razeena Johnson (a close friend).