Q & A with Healthy Climate Wisconsin’s Annie Carrell, NP

Vipassana: Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?

Annie: I grew up in a town outside of Jacksonville, Florida, but I currently live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Vipassana: Could you tell me a little bit about the kind of work that you do?

Annie: My official title is Director of Behavioral Health Services at Outreach Community Health Centers, a federally qualified health center. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I see patients for a portion of the day, but I also help to run our behavioral health clinic and several of our case management programs.

Vipassana: What would you do on your perfect weekend in Wisconsin?

Annie: A perfect weekend involves spending time outside—definitely being able to go to the beach if the weather allows it, or just enjoying some of the great parks in Milwaukee. I also love attending local events. Doors Open Milwaukee is one of my favorite things every year, where you get to explore all these different places that are not usually open to the public.

Vipassana: What brought you to Healthy Climate Wisconsin?

Annie: I was initially interested in utility accountability and justice, and I think I first got connected by signing up for the email list and responding to some of the action alerts a few years ago.

Vipassana: What is one of your favorite projects that you’ve worked on with Healthy Climate Wisconsin?

Annie: I am currently on HCW’s Forward We Energies utility team in Milwaukee. It's a smaller cohort of committed people, and I really enjoy working with them. Getting together at the strategy retreat in 2024 was especially helpful to really connect with others who are dedicated to climate action.

Vipassana: If you could broadcast something to every Wisconsinite about health and climate, what would you say?

Annie: I think it's important for everyone to know that every single one of us has a role to play in trying to improve the world that's in our future. Sometimes people don't think they have a role, but even if it's just something small, working towards a safer future is vital. Civic action and working to make our communities better actually helps make us healthier, happier people.

Vipassana: What is a topic that you really geek out about?

Annie: I absolutely love to read! I enjoy fiction quite a bit and enjoy thinking and talking about books. I also recently started making friendship bracelets, which has been a fun, slightly regressive new hobby!

Vipassana: What brings you hope?

Annie: First, the people I've connected with through Healthy Climate Wisconsin bring me a lot of hope. It’s inspiring to be in a community with so many committed professionals who truly care about their neighborhoods. When thinking about such a big issue, being together helps counter despair.

Second, I find hope when I look at the rest of the world. While we know the U.S. is lagging, most of the rest of the world is taking climate change seriously and moving towards embracing clean energy. Seeing big institutions like the Catholic Church or even China working on it is a good reminder that our slow progress here is somewhat isolated.