GirlTrek Launches Mission To Extend the Lives of Black Women

Published April 19, 2025 at 8:32 AM EDT

GirlTrek is the largest global nonprofit supporting Black Women's Health. They are on a mission to extend the life expectancy of Black Women by 10 years in the next 10 years.

GirlTrek launches a new initiative this year - they are asking for one million BLACK WOMEN to unite for a bold, new mission to extend our life expectancy by 10 years in 10 years. For the first time in our lifetimes, the younger generation has a shorter lifespan than their mothers and grandmothers. GirlTrek, an organization that promotes healthy choices and walking, is on a mission, and they need all of us to join. My high school girlfriends have stopped meeting at restaurants, and instead, we meet on the Beltline and walk. We are all determined to celebrate in ways that don’t involve food.

Carla Harris, Vice President of Member Care from GirlTrek, joins us to speak about the organization and their mission..

I asked Harris to tell folks who are not familiar with GirlTrek to tell us about the organization. She states that GirlTrek is one of the largest global nonprofits supporting Black Women’s health. She also speaks about the inspiring volunteers and members whose lives have changed by embracing a practice of walking for thirty minutes five days a week.

When asked about the mission to extend the lives of Black women, Harris expounds that this one act can increase your life expectancy by seven years, which is part of the GirlTrek strategy to reach their mission. She goes on to say that taking that walk is a form of radical self-care.

Not only does walking create a healthy habit, it also creates community. Walking with neighbors, co-workers, and friends allows you to have a conversation. Sharing challenges and successes creates a positive feedback loop is great for mental health as well. Harris invites and encourages every Black Women to take the pledge to take a walk. I shared that my friends and I all took the pledge and have begun meeting for walks.

The GirlTrek platform allows members to create public or private walks as another way to create a community of walkers. GirlTrek recently launched its Self-Care School to assist with making mental changes that are needed for embracing a healthy lifestyle.