GR!C STAFF
Joan Pinnell, Operations Manager | joan@girlsrockchicago.org
Growing up eldest in an over-crowded, single-stereo Kansas home meant two things for Joan: 1) accepting the kamikaze role of first kid to interrupt the ongoing parental preferred audio battle between Kris Kristofferson (dad’s choice) and Jimmy Cliff (mom’s) & 2) discovering a knack for music promotion early, as she strived to sell siblings on the benefits of relinquishing stereo control (Free Pantera-inspired air guitar lessons, anyone?). Promotional skills were confirmed in 1996 when Joan convinced her 76-year-old Grandma to participate in step-by-step head-banging lessons to the static sounds of From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah. She promoted local bands and designed album art throughout high school and while earning degrees in English, Graphic Design, & Art History from the University of Kansas. After dedicating 4 years of design/marketing skills to Chicago’s nonprofit sector, Joan returned to academia and earned a M.S. in Leadership & Policy Studies from DePaul University, as well as a certificate from the Research Center for Leadership in Action at NYU Wagner, both while acting as Director for the 501c3 Creative Pitch. When she’s not researching policy focused on female empowerment or uploading self-designed Internet memes to the World Wide Web, you can find Joan chugging Diet Coke from a 2 liter bottle and searching for the nearest Rockabilly show.
Melissa Oglesby, Outreach Director | melissa@girlsrockchicago.org
Melissa began playing music at age 8 with the clarinet, had brief run-ins with guitar and piano and eventually settled into drums. She became interested in DIY culture in her formative years and began publishing zines at the age of 14. When writing about independent music was no longer enough, in true DIY fashion, she started making her own, regardless of musical ability. When she’s not advocating for women and girls, she can often be found in the company of cats, bikes and baked goods.
Jennifer Czajka, Fundraising Coordinator | jennifer@girlsrockchicago.org
Jennifer grew up in Westchester, IL where she spent countless hours flipping 45s on her portable record player. While she loved these 60s pop tunes, it wasn’t until she bought her first cassette tape - Beastie Boys’ Licensed to Ill - that she fell hard. Through high school and college she watched her friends play VFW halls, church basements and lofts and set up shows in her garage. She admired the DIY energy of the scene, but found one thing to be missing: female players. Since her daughter first attended Girls Rock! camp in 2007, she has vowed to change that. She even picked up the guitar at Ladies Rock Camp! When she’s not conceiving awesome events for GR!C, she might be buying and recommending books and music in her day job at the library, or fixating on pies & cupcakes.
Melissa Kempfer, Gear Coordinator | mk@girlsrockchicago.org
Tara Brinkman, Parent Liaison | tara@girlsrockchicago.org
Tara has been working towards empowering women, girls and families for all of her adult life; in capacities such as preschool teacher, childbirth educator and doula, mentor for teen girls, and women’s health activist and educator. She started volunteering for GR!C in 2009 when her daughter started as a camper, and has been hooked ever since. In 2010, she was our first student intern and, after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies and Community Health, she joined us on staff. Her obsession with music started as a child in the 80’s and, by the time she was in 9th grade, she was sneaking in to Chicago several times per week to catch whatever all ages punk shows she could find. In Tara’s spare time, she can be found hanging out with her family and friends, cooking vegetarian meals, baking bread, playing with her dog at the beach, and doing crafts.
Laura Swanlund, Logistics Coordinator | laura@girlsrockchicago.org
Laura hails from lil’ Freeport, Illinois, where she picked up the work ethic and rebellious spirit that only a small-town upbringing can provide. She started playing piano at the age of 8 and began her training in classical harp two years later. More recently, she’s taken on the pedal steel guitar. Laura earned her Ph.D in School Psychology from Loyola University and is currently a School Psychologist for children aged 5-14. She is furthering her advocacy for children through pursing a degree in Educational Leadership, studying to become a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, and teaching as an adjunct university instructor. Other interests include biking, vintage clothes, playing guitar in the forest, backcountry camping, road trips, and the little things in life.
Molly Walsh, Volunteer Coordinator | molly@girlsrockchicago.org
Molly spent her earliest years under the musical guidance of an opera-fanatical father, leading to some thoroughly empowering renditions of the “Queen of the Night” aria by age three. Before she could fully assume creative control over the stereo, she was choreographing dance routines in the living room to the soundtrack from “The Bodyguard”—including, fittingly, some righteous sing-alongs of “Queen of the Night.” Nowadays, she’s an unflaggingly vocal proponent of “It’s never too late to pick up an instrument” and can often be found fumbling her way through some guitar jams or shaking/tapping/banging whatever percussive device is handy. A lifelong commitment to education and the written word took her from studying literature at Sarah Lawrence College, to selling books across the country, and finally to 826CHI, where she currently divides her time between selling grappling hooks and working with some of Chicago’s blooming young authors. When she’s not gushing about the value of mentorship and the need for social change, she’s probably baking or brewing something, or otherwise getting her hands dirty.
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…and infinitely more volunteers that donate their much appreciated time and energy to GR!C.
Email volunteer@girlsrockchicago.org to get involved.
