GirlTrek is a grassroots organization dedicated to improving the health of Black women by encouraging us to take a walk. This groundbreaking, life-changing organization is now on a mission to increase the life span of Black women. Over 1 million Black women are involved with GirlTrek walking daily to improve their physical and mental health. Earlier this month, GirlTrek had a walking meeting where we were encouraged to listen to the new Jill Scott. For this and many other reasons, I love GirlTrek. Carla Harris, the VP of Care and Customer Service, joins us.
I spoke with Harris about the recent GirlTrek walking meeting that had a playlist. The walk was dedicated to Harriet Tubman and asked Harris to share about the organization’s affiliation with Tubman, “the woman who knew that freedom required moving your feet!” Harris speaks about the walking meeting becoming a movement and that there were women from all fifty states, several countries, including women from Brazil and Ghana. Harris shares that to obtain “freedom,” it requires action.
GirlTrek, has become one of the largest public health engagements in the country, making a difference in the health of our community.
In the last 10 years, GirlTrek members reported and -
- 61% of women lost weight
- 90% experienced fewer symptoms of depression
- 28% were prescribed less medication that year than in previous years
- 59% walk daily at life-saving levels (According to the CDC, 5 days per week for 30 minutes)
- 56% have sustained a habit of daily walking for more than one year.
All members are encouraged to bring friends, family, daughters, and to take a walk. This is a place where you belong, no matter how fast or far you walk. The new mission is to increase the lifespan of Black women through walking. You can join other members by searching for GirlTrek Atlanta or GirlTrek Savannah on social media.