Everything you need to know!
We made history!
One million Black women have pledged to walk with GirlTrek in the direction of their healthiest, most fulfilled lives.
To the 600,000 new women who joined the movement this year, welcome. You are an official member of GirlTrek. To those who have been on this journey for the last decade, thank you for being the heart and soul of this sisterhood.
Rest, dear sister, is revolutionary and deserved. Every year, the GirlTrek National Team goes on hiatus for six weeks starting on December 1 and returning on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 18, 2021). This is required in order for us to recover and recharge for the new season. We ask that you join us in this declaration of radical rest.
Before signing off we want to make sure that you have everything you need to keep walking and prioritizing your self-care.
What you need to know:
1. Start with the story: Everything you need to know about the movement is in this TED Talk. It's already been watched more than 1 million times! Be prepared to say “Yaaaasssss!” as you watch our cofounders break down generational trauma and announce to the WORLD this powerful solution called GirlTrek. We are saving lives.
2. Open your front door: Never ask permission to save your own life. Harriet taught us this. We walk to slow down and to clear our minds, heal our bodies, connect with the world, find joy, inspire our daughters, and take back our streets. Lace-up for your first 30-minute walk today. Grab your earbuds, Listen to Episode1 of our “walking podcast” called Black History Bootcamp. There are 21 episodes that can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Buzzsprout along with an archive of stories that are sure to inspire. Take a journey with us in the footsteps of our foremothers! When you finish all 21 walks, you’ve established a lifesaving habit! Start now.
3. Represent! Whether you are taking a walk, shopping at a farmers' market, or getting your hair retwisted, we wear “superhero blue” so that we can spot each other on the street. Shop for cute hoodies, crop tops, rain jackets in The GirlTrek Store.
4. Connect: Did you know that you can find community and sisterhood with women in your city on one of our private Facebook group pages? Post about your progress, receive support from awesome women, stay up to date about what's happening in your city, and make new friends! See a complete list of GirlTrek approved Facebook group pages.
5. Spread the Word: From Forbes to Vogue, GirlTrek was on the national stage this year with 312+ media features. Everywhere there were stories of distress, in came GirlTrek with a story of hope. Check out some of the top stories.
6. Support: Struggling this holiday season? If you are in need of a sister’s keeper, don’t worry. You are not alone. We've all been there before. We have kind and loving volunteers waiting -- the Care Crusaders. Dial 855-GRL-TREK. That’s 855-475-8735. All you have to do is say, “Hey sis,” and they’ll take it from there. You can also check out our National Resource Toolkit which has FREE resources to help you navigate your current situation.
7. Safety and Covid-19: You’ve seen the photos of huge groups of Black women walking, laughing, healing together with GirlTrek. We will get back there. But right now, COVID is real. And it’s killing our grandmothers, cousins, aunties, men faster and at higher rates. So be safe. Use common sense. Wear your mask. Practice social distancing. Walk together virtually, by phone or Zoom. In addition to your physical health, we trust you to do what you need to also protect your mental health. And that might mean going for a safe walk with your family, friends, or neighbors. It might also mean standing on the front lines for justice. So, Black women, we trust you, love you, and want you to live! That’s the mission. Nothing else matters.
8. Questions: Do you still have questions? Find all of the answers in our Off-season FAQ.
Whether today is your day 1 or day 100, once you are walking and feeling good, pay it forward! Say, “Sis, want to go on a walk?” It saves lives.
The future of this movement is so bold, so bright! With every step, we are changing the entire world together. Believe that. It’s not too late for others to join. Share GirlTrek with everyone you love. Be counted at GirlTrek.org.
