Elevating non-traditional motherhood and helping modern families thrive is the inspiration for TV writer Jessica Butler and entrepreneur Erin Jackson, co-founders of Raise.

In addition to interviews and resources on parenting, Raise features articles on food, travel, design, style, and wellness. From cocktail recipes and travel guides to nursery décor and tips from celebrity make-up artists, Raise is a lifestyle destination for millennial mothers and mother figures.

Prior to Raise, Butler was a writer on USA’s In Plain Sight and TNT’s The Last Ship. She and her husband, writer/producer Warren Bell, co-created the Nick at Nite series Instant Mom, based on her life as a stepmother. She currently serves as the editor-in-chief of the lifestyle site. As both a stepparent and adoptive mom, Butler is keenly aware of the lack of representation and resources for non-traditional families. “Mainstream media is still created with traditional, biological mothers in mind. There is no What To Expect When You’re Expecting Stepchildren.” A recent poll from Pew Research Center shows that 44% of women in America have a step relationship, and statistics for other non-traditional family structures are equally stunning:

1 in 10 children lives with a non-biological parent.

4.6 million live in blended families and 1 in 4 mothers are solo parents.

1.5 million children are adopted and nearly 500,000 are in foster care.

4 million LGBT women are currently raising a child.

With its team of contributors, Raise creates content for millennial mothers and mothers-to-be whose relationships and families are increasingly diverse. One in 6 newlyweds are married to someone of a different race or ethnicity and 1 in 7 infants are multiracial or multiethnic. The joys and challenges of raising a mixed-race family is a topic intimately understood by co-founder Jackson, who is half Vietnamese, and serves as the head of branding and partnerships for the site. “Every aspect of my family is non-traditional. I am a proud stepdaughter, stepsister, half-sister, and a biological mother of mixed-race children. My goal is to create a platform where families like mine are celebrated and valued.”

“The name Raise obviously refers to raising children, but it’s also a call to raise the conversation. It’s time to redefine the ideal family structure.”

— Jessica Butler, co-founder

ERIN JACKSON

Erin Jackson is the co-founder of Raise. She’s a mother of two, wife, daughter, step-daughter, half sister, step-sister, proud millennial, and lover of travel. She also works as a marketing consultant and interior designer. When she’s not working, you can find her planning her next trip, baking muffins, pretending she’s going to go for a run, and avoiding playing Star Wars with her kids. She currently lives in Arkansas with her husband, Collin, and sons, Beckham and Reeves.

JESSICA BUTLER

Jessica Butler is the co-founder of Raise, stepmother of two, and adoptive mother of one. Prior to Raise, she was a writer on USA’s In Plain Sight and TNT’s The Last Ship. She and her husband, writer/producer Warren Bell, co-created the Nick at Nite series Instant Mom, based on her life as a stepmother. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and six-year-old son, Levon. Read more…