Engaged & Winning
Hey Family,
Does it feel like it’s Black girl winning season, or is it just me? Y’all know I’m feeling it because if you’ve been following me on Instagram (and if not, I went ahead and pulled a photo from the feed for today’s banner), then you already know! Thank you to the literally thousands of GirlTREK women who cheered on my engagement. We are manifesting together! Somebody cue the song—It’s my winning season!
Maybe it’s because after I got engaged, I was on the ground in Paris watching Sha’Carri, Simone, and the rest of the Black girl crew show out with their medals. Or maybe it’s Morgan sharing that Common and Bilal used her beautiful South Carolina home as the backdrop for their new music video. Or maybe it was Michelle Obama’s braids or Oprah’s purple suit at the DNC. Or maybe it’s your own cousin or homegirl who’s winning, and it’s just shifting the atmosphere, putting something in the air that makes this feel like a season of celebration.
But it’s more than that. It’s not just the headlines. It’s alchemy. It’s spiritual. It’s reminding us of the power we carry and the work we are called to do together.
Last Saturday was proof of that power. We launched The Liberation Line, and so many of you showed up that we crashed the GirlTREK Underground app! If you missed it, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Here’s the recording so you can listen before tomorrow’s call.
The Solution: In week one, we stood in solidarity with the victims of police and state violence, leading a meditation walk on the ground at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, MN.
The Strategist: We partnered with Alberder Gillespie and the Mothers of Professional Basketball Players—a powerful group of women who are deeply invested in their neighborhoods and communities.
The Sisters: Shout out to Tamera in Minneapolis who helped me scout the route, and to the OG Trekkers who showed up strong. We also discovered we have over 8,000 women registered across Minnesota and created a Facebook page to help them connect and organize. If you are in the Twin Cities, please join here.
And this is just the beginning.
For the next nine weeks, The Liberation Line will be our space for issue and cause-based organizing. We’ll be standing in solidarity, deepening our understanding of the issues, building our power, and preparing for our refounding moment in Atlanta, where we’ll launch our bold new mission to increase the life expectancy of Black women by 10 years in 10 years.
Lori, this is for you! Last week, you said you’d get your cousins organized, so I’m officially issuing the challenge: How many of your cousins can you get on The Liberation Line tomorrow? The sister with the most cousins on the line will receive something special—a thank you for rallying your crew and showing up for this movement.
We are on the road to Atlanta. At the end of October, you are still invited to join us for a national rally where we will announce our bold new mission. Save the date for Saturday, October 26th! Leading up to this historic moment, we are using The Liberation Line to educate ourselves and our members on the issues that impact our life expectancy and health. This is where we gather, strategize, and prepare for what’s next. Every step we take together is a step towards liberation and longer, healthier lives for us all.
Tomorrow, grab your cousins, your sisters, your friends—anyone who needs to be part of this movement. Join us on The Liberation Line at 9AM ET, and let’s keep walking, winning, and standing in our power.
Dial: (646) 876-9923 | Code: 734464325# (+16468769923,,734464325#) to join us live, and press *9 to raise your hand and join the conversation.
With love and purpose,
Vanessa (and Morgan)
P.S. Did you hear we've got new merch in the store? Our newest design features the "G" in GirlTREK and represents the power of one million Black women united. Pre-order today.
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