THEFIELDGuide
Step-by-step guiDE for GirlTREK members
ROLL CALL
WHO ARE YOU?
Welcome to the GirlTREK movement! Please introduce yourself and put your name in your field guide using our “DAUGHTERS OF” tradition.
You are the daughter of the women who walked before you. This is an invitation for you to honor them with your steps by calling their names here.
Black women, you are welcome here.
It started with two friends.
NOW, WE ARE A MILLION.
Welcometothefrontlinesofthe GirlTREKmovement!Thisyear,we walkinsolidaritywithyou,toward thehighestvisionofyourhealthiest life Thisfieldguideishereto supportyouonthatjourney It’salso ablueprinttogrowourworkintoa globalmovementfocusedontotal healing,joy,andjustice Ihave nothingbutfaiththatourcollective lightwillleadtheworld,andour servicewillsavelives
-MorganDixon,Co-Founder
FromHarrietTubmantothewomen oftheMontgomeryBusBoycotts,to thedrillteamsintheparadesofmy childhoodinSeattle,Iamdeeply inspiredbythetransformationthat occurswhenBlackwomenwalk together.Weinviteyoutojointhis lovingcommunityofonemillionBlack women.Youarewelcomehere.
-VanessaRenae,Co-Founder
MORGAN VANESSA
“Never Ask Permission to save your own life.”
-GirlTREK
visionforMylife PathtotheHEAlthiest&
AtGirlTREK,wehaveapracticecalleda“ManifestationMile.”Itisareflection andvisioningactivitythatyoucandoatanytime Itincludesfourparts Ifyou arewalkingaroundahighschooltrack,askadifferentquestiononeachlap:
Youhavecomesofarfromwhereyou started Wearegrateful!Testify Telluswhatyouhave overcome
foryourhealthiest,happiestlife?Makeitplain-afewwords.
THE CRISIS
Lastyear,Blackwomendiedadecadeyounger thanotherwomeninAmerica. Forthefirsttimeinhistory,ourdaughtersare projectedtoliveshorterlivesthanours. Thisisaninjustice.
THE CAVALRY IS HERE
GirlTREK has people power. We are 1.3 million members, which constitutes 7% of the total population of 17 million Black women in America.
GirlTREK started with a simple mission: to inspire a critical mass of Black women to start walking.
Using tactics from the Civil Rights Movement, GirlTREK’s mission grew into a movement.
Today, there is a GirlTREK member in every 14th house in our neighborhoods.
We are the ones we ’ ve been waiting for
WHO ARE WE?
We are a million Black women who walk for joy and justice.
WHY DO WE WALK?
We walk to heal our bodies, inspire our daughters and reclaim the streets of our neighborhoods.
WHAT DO WE WANT?
We want to live healthy and happy lives.
GirlTrek’s Mission?
Our mission is to increase the life expectancy of Black women by 10 years in 10 years. (This is the truest measure of justice.)
Our Strategy
We have a “3M” strategy and it’s mmm good!
More than a walking organization, we are:
a mass MOVEMENT to heal our bodies and minds a MEDIA powerhouse to inspire our daughters to join a MOBILIZATION network to change the systems that make us sick.
Navigating this Field Guide
Roll Call: Who are you the daughter of
Welcome: Meet our co-founders
Vision-Setting: Define your healthiest life
Problem & Solution: The crisis and cavalry
Who We Are: Who we are
Table of Contents: This right che’re
Core Values: We practice R.A.D.I.C.A.L welcome
2025 Program: Message from national team
Success Road Map: For active members
Self Care School: Intro to spring training
Sister’s Keeper Pledge: How we serve year-around
Summer of Solidarity: Campaign for Joy & Justice
Advocacy Agenda: Strategy for systems change
The 10-Point Plan: GirlTREK’s advocacy agenda
Report Card: GirlTREK’s impact to date
Southern Strategy: How we organize
Care Crusade & Villages: National community service
Change Theory: Why walking works
Workbook: Tools to organize
Walk Counter: Stay on track with Self Care School
Harriet House Parties: How to organize & celebrate
Rendezvous Points: We’re outside!
OUR CORE VALUES
“Radical Welcome” is the the bedrock of our belief system Angela Davis taught us that radical means “grasping things at the root.” GirlTREK’s core values get to the root of the crisis and disrupt habits and systems that no longer serve us Radical also means “bold, revolutionary vision.” This journey together requires a forward-leaning set of beliefs about who we want to be. From neighborhood blocks to national boardrooms, we all practice the following R.A.D.I.C.A.L. values:
We source hope in hard times
We envision and enact the boldest ideas.
Resilience AUdacity DISCIPLINE
We plan for and commit to daily action.
We walk our talk - and have the data to prove it.
We ask questions and listen to learn.
INTEGRITY CURIOSITY ADVOCACY
We speak truth to power and stand up for our people.
lOVE
We love our neighbors as ourselves.
Message from the National Team: The 2025 Program
Dear Sister,
You are one-in-a-million members reading this! That means we succeeded at our first mission. We have a bold and urgent new mission: to extend the life expectancy of Black women by 10 years over the next 10 years
We didn’t come by this new mission overnight. No. We took years. We listened We heard you describe the problem We created a framework called “Three Deadly I’s” so that the world could understand:
Isolation: The Black family has BEEN under attack We are alone
Inactivity: Our health is a labor issue. We are exhausted!
Injustice: The system has made us sick! We have demands!
This is our 10-in-10 Plan our commitment to reclaiming health, joy, and justice through movement, community, and collective action And to make it real, we need to start training for the decade ahead. The training plan is easy to remember Think “The Power of 10 ” This plan is a right-sized and radical solution to the scale of the problem It is outlined on the following pages and includes:
Sister’s Keeper Pledge
a promise to invite 10 friends to walk this year - that’s 1 per month
Self-Care School
a 10-week commitment to train your body and mind THIS SPRING
Summer of Solidarity
a plan to march for joy and justice 10 Saturdays THIS SUMMER
This is direct action against isolation, inactivity and injustice We will celebrate our victory each fall with a “Care Crusade” to bring our joy and justice, and our newfound energy, to the streets of our communities. We are excited to walk with you this year
With love and determination,
GirlTREK National Team:
Morgan, Vanessa, Cynthia, Carla, Pam, Marcie, Keturah, MD, Hailey, Siobhan, Ayanna, Chyna, Yolanda, Zahria, Renate, Ebony, Summer, Kallima, Brittany, Joanna, Chasiti, Nyra, Stephanie, Tara, Angie and Tyreen
TESTIFY
Spreadthegoodnews! Inviteotherstogeton theroadwithuswith “Step1:Join"
SucceSS: A ROAD MAp
SERVE
Docommunityservice; Volunteereachfallfor TheCareCrusade.
SEASON CALENDAR
MAR: Sister’s Keep Pledge Starts
APR: Spring Training Starts: Self-Care School
MAY: Self-Care School continues
JUN: Self-Care School graduation at Juneteenth events
JUL: Summer of Solidarity (S O S ) walks begin on Saturdays
AUG: S O S continues live each Saturday
SEP: S.O.S. ends; Volunteer Training at GTHQ
OCT: Fall Challenges: GratitudeTrek, 9-Day PrayerTrek, BF5K
NOV: National Care Crusade & EOY Wellness Revival
and
TOACTIVEMEMBERSHIP
Traininlife-savingskills todeliverdirectcare toneighbors
March virtually for Joy & Justice over the summer in solidarity with other movements.
Be a sister’s keeper and invite a friend for a walk
Walk or exercise 30 minutes per day. Complete a 5-day self-care streak each week
“YOU ARE ON THE EVE OF COMPLETE VICTORY.”
-JosephineBaker
SELF-CARE SCHOOL
a 10-week commitment to train your body and mind
Self-Care School is an immersive, 10-week training program that blends movement, history, and radical self-care to teach Black women how to heal themselves and organize their communities.
This is not self-help. This is a training ground. The Civil Rights Movement had Freedom Schools we have Self-Care School. This is about preparing Black women for the moment we are in
Members around the world will lace up their sneakers, grab their earbuds, press play on the podcast, and walk 30 minutes per day. That’s 15 minutes out - in any direction - and 15 minutes back! Research tells us that a 30-minute walk, just five times per week, will add 7 years to our lives - if it becomes a habit That’s exciting So let’s make it a habit
Success is walking 5 days per week, for 10 weeks.
...but we will celebrate you every week with a high five and an achievement badge We have a workbook on Page 38 to track your walks and a website (myselfcareschool com) that allows you to claim your victories and graduate.
WEAREEACH OTHER'SHARVEST: WEAREEACH OTHER'S BUSINESS:WEARE EACHOTHER'S MAGNITUDE ANDBOND.
- GWENDOLYN BROOKS
SISTER’S KEEPER PLEDGE
a promise to invite a friend to take a walk with you regularly
We believe in the power of sisterhood! Each week, we encourage you to invite a sister, friend, coworker, neighbor, or soror to take a walk
Whether it’s a stroll after work or a Saturday morning catch-up, this simple act strengthens bonds and fights isolation This is an evergreen promise.
Success is getting 10 friends to say “Yes” by the end of the year.
Invite a sister to walk weekly or once per month - both help you reach the goal! When you fulfill your promise, please tell us at girltrek org and we’ll send you a commemorative Sister’s Keeper bracelet, while supplies last
Track progress on this Sister’s Keeper Promise on Page 58!
YOU DON'T MAKE PROGRESS BY STANDING ON THE SIDELINES
-Shirley Chisholm
Summer of Solidarity
a pledge to walk for joy & justice
Summer of Solidarity is a 10-week, global call to action where GirlTREK is hitting the streets with 10 mass actions—10 bold opportunities to show up, show out, and stand in radical, revolutionary solidarity where joy is the agenda and justice is our demand.
.... part walk-a-thon, part protest, part parade, Summer of Solidarity is a global takeover where every mile you walk raises dollars to invest directly in the solutions our communities deserve
Spread the word!
Success is walking in 10 virtual solidarity marches this summer.
ADVOCACY AGENDA
A 10-POINT PLAN FOR JOY & JUSTICE
Background:
We have NEVER asked permission to save our own livesbecause we ’ ve never trusted the system.
The system killed Fannie Lou Hamer.
And yet, we remain steadfast. Our hope lies in our own power. The research says that the health benefits of walking alone adds 7 years of life - and if we walk together, social cohesion adds another 3 years. Bet.
We are not naive We know that we increase the quality of our lives dramatically when we build coalitions to put pressure on the systems that make us sick in the first place. We desire healthy food, fair pay, and safe communities.
The Preamble to Our New Advocacy Agenda:
GirlTREK is a radical, member-led organization that believes in a visionary and futurist approach to transformational social change We know that nobody is coming to save us, and that we have the tools to create the world we want
We see a world where Black women are healthy, live longer lives, and hold tangible economic and political power across the globe.
We also know that we can’t do this alone: we love and walk in solidarity with Black men, and we support the leadership and collective liberation of all Black people
Our 10-Point Plan for Joy & Justice is our road map for mobilization in our communities over the next ten years.
10 JOY & JUSTICE DEMANDS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
WeWantHealthyBodies.Wewantimmediateaccesstoaffordableandhighqualityhealthcareforall,includingpreventivecare,comprehensive reproductivecare,traditionalmedicine,accesstoresourcesforsubstance abuserecovery,andtreatmentthatrespectsself-determination
WeWantHealthyMinds.Wewantrelieffromthedeadlyimpactofstressand thepopulation-leveltraumaofforcedlabor,terrorandpoverty Wewant accesstomentalhealthresourcesandculturally-appropriatetherapeuticcare
WeWantHealthyFamilies.Wedemandtruthfulandaccuratehistoryand researchtodemonstratetheimpactofslavery,forcedseparation,colonization andmassincarcerationonBlackfamilies Toaddressthepressureofthatpast, wewantjobs,affordablechildcare,addictiontreatment,theendtocashbail, andpaidkinshipcaretodisruptthefostersystem Wewantourfamily memberstocomehome Whentheygetthere,wewillpreservecultural traditionsthatcenterjoy
WeWantHealthyFood.Wesupportcommunity-led,organic,regenerative foodsystemsandthelaborerswhopowerthem Wewantfoodsovereignty
WeWantEconomicFreedom.Wewillengageincollectivebargainingfor mutualaid Wedemandfairpay,andanendtoexploitativelaborpracticesand predatorylending.Weseekdeepinvestmentsincommunity-ownedsolutions tothehealthcrisis
WeWantLand&Housing.Wedemandhighqualityandaffordablehousing andwalkableneighborhoods Wewanttoownlandforourchildren,protect historiclandmarksthatbringmeaningtoourcommunities,andtoend corporatepollutionofMotherEarth.
WeWantPower.Wewantfreespeech,universalvotingaccess andtheimmediateendtovotersuppression.Wewillfighttouphold thecivilrightsprotectionssecuredbyourforemothers,andwewill fightfornewrightsundernewsuns
WeWantSafety&Decarceration.Wewantanendtoviolence inourcommunities,theleadingcauseofdeathforour daughters.Wedemandanendtosurveillance,over-policing, theproliferationofgunsanddrugs,massincarceration, andprivateprisons Wewantinvestmentsinrestorative justiceandrehabilitation.
WeWantCareforourCaregivers.Wedemandcare fromthewombtothetomb.Thismeansreproductive justice,anendtoinequitabletreatmentofourmembers duringpregnancyandchildbirthbyhealthcareinstitutions, progressivepaidleave,accessibilityinpublicspacesforpeoplewith disabilities,anddignifiedcare,supportandhousingforourelders
WeWanttheNextGenerationtoLead.Webelieveinthepower andpotentialofthenextgenerationtocreateamorejust,more healthyworld Wedemandaccesstoqualityeducationandjobsfor ouryoungpeople,includingaminimizationofstudentloandebt
OUR REPORT CARD: THE FIRST 10 YEARS
Reaching our goal of one million Black women walking two years ahead of projections, GirlTREK now has 1 3 million members and counting. This represents 7% of all Black women in the US, and includes a growing cohort of walkers in countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Central America.
GirlTREK has become one of the most effective public health interventions for Black women. Members report walking 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week a life-saving threshold 2 out of 3 members have seen improvement in symptoms from pre-existing conditions. 90% experienced fewer symptoms of depression, 61% lost weight, 56% are no longer taking medications for those conditions
More than 10,000 women have gone through GirlTREK’s organizer training. These health activists and local leaders have a multiplier effect, mobilizing their families and thousands of women in neighborhoods across the country to walk each week.
GirlTREK made significant contributions to the public health sector by studying the root causes of early death for Black women and codifying our learnings into The Three Deadly I’s: inactivity, isolation and injustice. This framework is critical for creating strategies and effective interventions, as reported in Stanford Social Innovation Review. The cofounders are among the top 1% of social innovators in the world who were selected for fellowships by Echoing Green, Ashoka, Aspen Institute and Harvard Kennedy School
We have created a new culture of health in America. GirlTREK members have been featured on CNN, NPR, BET, across national and local radio, in The New York Times and on the world’s biggest stage, TED. Known as the “pioneers of self-care,” “health heroes,” and featured on the cover of Outside Magazine as “Icons,” GirlTREK has received over 50 million unique views on content including a 100-mile walk on the Underground Railroad, an award-winning podcast called Black History Bootcamp and its #DaughtersOf campaign which inspired a film.
THE AMERICAN SOUTH:
AN ORGANIZING STRATEGY
The health crisis is most pronounced in The American South. It is where 59% of Black women reside, making it the perfect staging ground for GirlTREK’s Care Crusade It is the reason we purchased Dr. Martin Luther King’s office in Montgomery.
While we continue to have opportunities for you to train and serve nationwide, we will invest in targeted recruitment of volunteers to serve as crusaders in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia
A WAVE OF CARE Unleashed
"Ifeachofusjustknockedonourownneighbors'doorsto
invitethemtotakeawalkwithus,we'dchangeeverything!"
-YolandaWilliams,ProgramManager-JusticeInitiative
Care Villages: Over the next ten years, in key cities, GirlTREK will work with partners to stand up a place-based service model called Care Villages in historic Black communities. This is our strategy for sustained care. Our flagship Care Village will be in Montgomery, Alabama, on the very streets where the Montgomery Bus Boycotts were staged
Care Villages will offer comprehensive mental health first aid, access to fresh food, hospital advocacy and other life-saving resources provided in deep coordination with our local partners.
Care Crusades: Imagine if the most active GirlTREK members trained to deliver care to their neighbors Starting this fall, we will launch a national community service campaign called The Care Crusade to offer a listening ear, an invitation to weekly walks, and access to virtual “walking support
UNLOCKING LIFE EXPECTANCY:
Walking 30 minutes per day - at least 5 days per week - extends life expectancy by 7 years. When we add lifestyle changes like walking together, eating better or reducing stress, we can easily add another 3 years to meet our goal by 2035.
And that’s just the beginning... Beyond behavior change, we will inspire hope in our communities. We will power a Care Crusade that brings lifesaving resources to the doorsteps of our neighbors We will create a new culture of health that inspires our daughters and their daughters, for generations to come
Finally, we have to address the ecosystem of sickness. GirlTREK will organize an energized army of walkers to serve as a powerful constituency to support landmark legislation, advance a policy agenda, and build a wellness economy. When we change systems - like stopping the proliferation of private prisons, increasing access to healthcare, and budgeting for more walkable neighborhoods - we will succeed.
PhysicalActivity
HealthyEating:
SocialConnections:
The Workbook
WELCOME TO SELF-CARE SCHOOL
POWERED BY GIRLTREK
"Caringformyselfis
notself-indulgence,itis self-preservationand thatisanactof politicalwarfare" -AudreLorde
WELCOME TO Self-Care School
Thisisa10-weekwalkingclassroomthatusesahigh-energy, interactivepodcasttoteachlife-savingskills.Atanygiven time,thousandsofwomenarewalkingwithyouinsolidarity. It’spowerful.ThiscourseisalignedwithourJoy&Justice AdvocacyAgendasothatyouarereadytoleveragebigpolicy winsandawaveofnewresources!
CourseHighlights:Tosupportyourstudies,GirlTREK providesfundailylessons,interactivehomework,extracredit challenges,andweeklyachievementbadges Whenyou graduate,youwillearnacertificateofcompletionandasetof goldenshoelaces,whilesupplieslast.
GraduationRequirements:A30-minutewalk,atleast5days perweek,for10weeks.Boom.Yougotthis!
TheWorkbook:Thefollowingpagesareanold-schoolwayto trackyourjourney.Everyweekthatyoufinish5walks,we celebrateyou.Wecallita“HighFiveWeek.”Fillinthebubble foreachdayyouwalk Then,checkthe“HighFive”boxwhen youcomplete5walkseachweek. Toaccesspodcast episodes,getstep-by-stepinstructionsforclaimingyour weeklyvictorybadges,andtoannounceyourgraduation,goto girltrek.org/myselfcareschool.
Week1: BODY RESET 101
WALK TRACKER:
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
Notes: Space to jot down skills, statistics or inspiring sayings.
High-Five: Check the box if you completed 5 walks this week:
Week2:
WALK TRACKER:
MENTAL RELIEF 101
SU MO TU WE TH F
Notes: Space to jot down skills, statistics or inspirin
High-Five: Check the box if you completed 5 walks t
Week3:
WALK TRACKER:
FAMILY HEALING 101
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
Notes: Space to jot down skills, statistics or inspiring sayings.
High-Five: Check the box if you completed 5 walks this week:
Week4:
WALK TRACKER:
FOOD MEDICINE 101
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
Notes: Space to jot down skills, statistics or inspiring sayings.
High-Five: Check the box if you completed 5 walks this week:
Week5:
WALK TRACKER:
FINANCialFreedom101
Notes: Space to jot down skills, statistics or inspiring sayings.
High-Five: Check the box if you completed 5 walks this week:
Week6:
WALK TRACKER:
LAND RIGHTS 101
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
Notes: Space to jot down skills, statistics or inspiring sayings. SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
High-Five: Check the box if you completed 5 walks this week:
Week7:
WALK TRACKER:
PLAYS 101
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
Notes: Space to jot down skills, statistics or inspiring sayings.
High-Five: Check the box if you completed 5 walks this week:
Week8:
WALK TRACKER:
SELF-DEFENSE 101 POWER
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
Notes: Space to jot down skills, statistics or inspiring sayings.
High-Five: Check the box if you completed 5 walks this week:
Week9:
WALK TRACKER:
RADICAL CARE 101
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
Notes: Space to jot down skills, statistics or inspiring sayings.
High-Five: Check the box if you completed 5 walks this week:
Week10:
WALK TRACKER:
RADICALLEADERSHIP101
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
Notes: Space to jot down skills, statistics or inspiring sayings.
High-Five: Check the box if you completed 5 walks this week:
YOU ARE INVITED:
I’m on the path to graduate Self-Care School —a 10-week journey with GirlTREK— and I’m planning my graduation! Will you join me? �� Date: ____________________________ Time: ____________________ �� Location: __________________________________________________
�� Why: Because self-care is a revolutionary act. Because I’m proud of myself. Because I want to celebrate with the women I love.
READY TO GRADUATE SELF-CARE SCHOOL?
HOST A harriet HOUSE PARTY!
�� Harriet House Parties are how we graduate Self-Care School
A beloved tradition in GirlTREK these parties are a chance to celebrate yourvictory and share the best lessons that you learned from self-care school with your friends and family
Think of the house parties our mothers and grandmothers threw rent parties, revival gatherings, kitchen-table organizing
A Harriet House Party is built in that same spirit.
HOWTO HOST A HARRIET HOUSE PARTY
�� Step 1: Decide on your Guest List
Large or small, this can be a few friends, a reunion of cousins, your church sisters, your co-workers whoever has cheered you on
�� Step 2: SetYour Graduation Date
Count 10 weeks from your start date and mark the moment with intention (Start April 7th and celebrate with a Juneteenth graduation!)
�� Step 3: PickYour Spot
Your house, a restaurant, a park, a backyard picnic choose a place that feels good to you.
�� Step 4: Follow the Harriet House PartyToolkit
Download the toolkit from ourwebsite for fun tips, recipes, and recommendations to make your party feel special, or just follow the simple protocol provided here.
RENDEZVOUS POINTS
WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED
We love to unplug and go outside. We love to connect IRL.
Rendezvous Points are the official movement events of GirlTREK
Think parades, protests, concerts Think 5Ks, half-marathons, festivals.Think block parties, wellness revivals, and historic walks where we step out in our superhero blue together.
�� These are the moments where we make our presence felt.
Where we show up—bold, visible, and in formation
�� These are spaces where we organize for joy and justice
�� These are the events where we show up in solidarity.
�� Rendezvous Points are updated regularly.
�� Find the official list through the Mobilize link at GirlTREK.org
SUPERHERO ROLES!
LEADERS OF SELF, FRIENDS, CITIES, COUNTRY
Thismovementisledbyyou.GirlTREKhasformalvolunteeropportunities.Ifyouare interestedinlearningmore,pleaseemailusatvolunteer@girltrek.orgorvisit GirlTREK org Herearerolesyoucanplaythisyear:
MEMBER
n.amembercommitstoapersonalhabitofdailywalkingorexerciseasadeclarationof self-care! Shewears“superheroblue”sothathercommunitycanseeherservice She completesSelf-CareSchool,walksinsolidaritywithusoverthesummerandisasister’s keeperbyinvitingfriendstogoforawalk,yearround
CREWLEADER
n.amemberwhoistrainedbyGirlTREKtohostwalkswithgroupsofpeopleinher neighborhood Therearesafetyprotocolsandorganizingguidelinesforcrewleadershosting groupsofwalkers Thetrainingisfreeandeasy SignupatGirlTREKorg
SOCIALSECRETARY
n.amemberwhoisappointedtobeabrandambassadorwhobuildsawarenessthroughhighenergy,city-levelrecruitmentandmarketingactivationsinkeycities Shehostsbranded publicwalks,coordinatesmeetupsatRendezvousPoints,andhostsrecruitmenthouseparties
CARECRUSADER
n. amemberwhotrainsandiscertifiedtoserveinGirlTREK’sannualCareCrusadeasa frontlinerespondertothehealthneedsofourcommunities.In2025,roleswillincludeThe BlueBrigade(mentalhealthfirstresponders)andGirlTREKGardeners
Sister’s Keeper
10 WAYS TO INSPIRE
YOUR FRIENDS TO WALK WITH YOU
TheSimplertheBetter: Youdon’thavetotellthemaboutGirlTREKor thehealthcrisis.Whoa,Nelly.Justsay,“Heygirl,youwanttogofora walktomorrowafterwork?”
InviteThemtoYourWalk:Don’taskthemtoplanawalkwithyou. Invitethemtooneyou’vealreadyplanned.
ConsistencyWorks:Sametime,sameplace Easyforpeopletojoin
BeSupportive:Ourfriendshavedifferentlevelsoffitness Beclearhow farthewalkisandhowdifficulttheinclinesare Assureyourfriendsthat theycanwalkattheirownpaceandcompleteasmanyloopsormilesas theywant
BetheCoolestGirlinTown: Findoutalloftheoutdooreventsintownconcerts,festivals,protests-andaskyourfriendstowalkwithyouas youdocoolstuff.Don’tforgettorepGirlTREKwithyourgear!
FunThemes,ExperiencesorHolidays:Thinkofyourwalksasasocial event!MakemeetupsfunbycreatingthemeslikeHalloweenCostume WalkorBlackHistoryTourorMother-DaughterWalk.
#BlackGirlJoyPaparazzi:Showyourfriendswhattheyaremissing! Makeitahabittosnapapicturewhenyouareoutwalking,feelinggreat orseesomethingbeautifullikeasunsetorskyline!Showoffyour #GirlTREKGlow!Tagallthegoodnessonsocialmediawith#GirlTREK
Reminders,Reminders,Reminders: You'dbesurprisedhowmany peopleareinspiredbyyouandhaveeveryintentiontojoinyouonawalk, buttheyforget Textfriends2-3timesbeforeyourwalkingdate Ifyou arefancy,sendthemanOutlookcalendarinvite.
Jaw-DroppingLocations: Haveyoueverwalkedthroughanature preserve,aglobalmarketplaceoracrossaniconicbridgeatsunrise? Takeyourfriendsontheroadtoinspirenewexperiences.
Testify:Tellpeopleyourstoryandwhatwalkinghasdoneforyou
TALK BEFORE THE WALK
From Seattle to South Africa, whether you are a member who is walking with a friend or you are a trained crew leader, GirlTREK walks start the same way We thank sisters for coming and welcome them with a quick talk that includes a “3-S” format:
STORY:
Whydoeswalkingtogethermattertoyou? WhatisGirlTREK?
SUMMARY
Whatistheroute?Distance?
Pace?Terrain?Timeexpected?
SAFETY:
Seechecklistandprotocolonnextpage...
SAFETY CHECKLIST:
Scout:Checkoutthefullroutebeforeyouwalkwith otherstoauditanyhazards(dogs,uneventerrain, missingstreetlights,etc)
ReviewTrekCode: Reviewandupholdthecodesof GirlTREK.(Seepage53)
LiabilityWaiver: Pleaseensurethatallwomenwho walkwithyousignupatGirlTREKorg,whichincludes aliabilitywaiverforourvolunteers.
GearandSupplies: Everyoneshouldhave supportivesneakersandbewearinglayers appropriatefortheweather
StreetRules: Walkonsidewalksandpaths When sidewalksaremissing,walkontheshouldertoward carandbiketraffic. Neverjaywalk. Waitforthe entireteamtocrossintersections
EmergencyTools:Bringachargedcellphone,extra waterandalittlebitoffoodorcandy–incase someoneneedsit Ifyouhaveallergies/asthmabring yourEpiPen/inhalerandencourageotherstodothe same.
EmergencyProtocol: Call911oremergency servicesphonenumber.DoNOThesitate!
Talking Points
THE PR RECEIPTS YOU NEED IN YOUR BACK POCKET.
�� “We’ve mobilized 1M+ members who are now leading a neighborhood-based revolution to increase Black women’s life expectancy by 10 years in 10 years ” (Period )
�� “We just launched the 10-Point Joy & Justice Agenda—all of our advocacy is aligned with this bold vision for liberation.” (Solidarity with systems-change actors is how we power this agenda.)
�� “GirlTREK is not just for Black women it’s led by Black women for the communities we love” (We lead our families, our blocks, ourworkplaces.That’s real diversity.)
�� “We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit leading the largest public health intervention for Black women in history” (We are nonpartisan. We don’t campaign or lobby for parties, but we do advocate for our rights and vote!)
�� “We cracked the code: Walking 30 minutes a day adds 7 years to your life. Add joy, sisterhood, and lifestyle changes—that’s +3 more. ” (Our solution is a wonder drug.)
�� “We are the proud owners of Bricklayer’s Hall Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s former headquarters as our national movement home in Montgomery, AL.” (We don’t just study history. We invest in it.)
�� “GirlTREK is free.You can support the movement through donations on the website or by shopping in our online store.”
(Thank you!)
QUICK HEALTH STATS
Thatis the19thU.S.Surgeon General,Dr.VivekMurthy. HelovesGirlTREK!
RESEARCHPOINTS:
THECRISIS:Weareonthefrontlinesofahealthcrisis.Blackwomen aredying10yearsearlierthanwomenofotherracesandwesay,not onourwatch!
THEFACTS:82%ofusareoverahealthyweight;67%ofusgetlittle tonoleisure-timeexerciseeachday;137Blackwomendieeachday fromheartdisease-that'smorethangunviolence,HIV/AIDSand smokingcombined!HALFofBlackgirlswilldevelopTypeIIDiabetesif currentdietandlevelsofphysicalactivityremainconstant.
THESOLUTION:Thereisconsensusinthemedicalcommunity: WalkingistheSINGLEmostPOWERFULthingawomancandoforher health.
THECOMMUNITY: Wepracticeradicalwelcome,whichmeans anyoneisinvitedtosupportthismovementtosaveBlackwomen’s lives
THE TREK CODE: How we walk
The 7-Minute Rule: Early is on time. We always get to the trek location 7 minutes early to meet our friends, crews or community.
Loop and Scoop!
We never leave a sister behind. We always double back to make sure everyone finishes.
Single-File and Smile: We share the sidewalk with our neighbors by collapsing to a single file line to pass them. As we go by, we spread joy with a friendly “hello!”
GirlTREK Pace! We NEVER mosey! We hustle hard! We trek a 15-minute mile–that’s 4 miles per hour! Time yourself. Can you walk 4 miles in one hour?
Tell the #GirlTREK Story!
Celebrate Every Victory!
We always wait for and cheer on the last woman. Each trek ends with a victory bridge and joy jump photo!
Model what it means to be a healthy Black woman. We primarily use social media to broadcast our stories in the streets. “We outside!” Share your photos using #GirlTREK.
THE DON'TS, LORD PlEASE
Please DON’T talk to the media on behalf of GirlTREK. Speaking for one million members is tough We can help you We want your voice to be heard And we know how it is when the lights come on We want to see you 100% prepared and inspiring Please share any media request - written, radio or television - with us at info@girltrek.org and wait for a response before proceeding.
Please DON’T solicit, charge fees or sell bootleg products. GirlTREK is free! The sale of our gear underwrites the costs of our movement!
Please DON’T seek funding for your own project using GirlTREK. We are building a sustainability plan for the organization and brand, and we have a strategy for fundraising If you have funding leads that support our collective mission, please send them to info@girltrek.org.
Please DON’T wear our gear at events that conflict with our agenda. Our superhero blue shirts are sacred. We’ve seen them on the frontlines of protests, at city council meetings, and in service delegations around the world It’s beautiful Please be judicious with where you wear our movement’s logo
Please DON’T cancel.
Trust and reliability matter! A little rain ain’t never hurt nobody!
Please DON’T judge.
We are a kind and loving movement. We welcome everyone! Please make people feel safe – all women and girls are welcome, always.
Please DON’T give up!
Leading a health movement can have ups and downs, but we promise determination pays off!
NEED HELP? WE'VE GOT YOU!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We have created an interactive guide to answer all of your real-time questions We have an excellent member care team that can also assist you To get started, go to GirlTREK org and click FAQs at the bottom
Sign Up? Members should sign up at GirlTREK org
Emergency? Immediately call 911 and report all emergencies to info@girltrek.org within 24 hours
Email? We are here to answer your questions at info@girltrek org
Phone? Have a quick question during the week? We'd love to hear from you at (202) 808-8419
Testimony? Have a great story? Tell us about it. Email info@girltrek org
Website? Need some help with the website? We're here to help Email info@girltrek org
Inspiration? Check out our award-winning podcast to keep yourself inspired to walk daily Go to blackhistorybootcamp com
T-Shirts? You can purchase all your GirlTREK gear at shop.girltrek.org
Recruitment Tools? For videos, presentations and manuals, check out "Basic Tools for Organizing" on our website
Music? We've created an awesome CLASSIC SOUL pacing playlist at tinyurl com/GirlTREKPlaylist Plus we have dozens of current playlists on Spotify as part of Black History Bootcamp
Instagram? We’ve taken a social media hiatus lately because it’s half the problem! But when we come back it will be @GirlTREK In the meantime, we encourage you to share your very best photos using #GirlTREK. It will inspire those in your life
Facebook? Get inspiration by joining your city's FB group or reading posts at our main page at GirlTREK: Healthy Black Women and Girls!
Sister’sKeeper
Progress on Your Pledge
ENCOURAGEYOURFRIENDSTOTAKETHEPLEDGEATGIRLTREK.ORG WewanthercountedinthisbeautifulmovementandtheGirlTREKPledge protectsourmovementwithaliabilitywaiver
CLAIMYOURVICTORY: Didyoufulfillyourpledgeandwalkwith10womenthis year?Awesome Goodjob GotoGirlTREKorgtoclaimyourcommemorative Sister’sKeeper bracelet Whilesupplieslast
BONUSLINES:...incaseyougetonaroll.
NOTES & BRILLIANT IDEAS
#GirlTrek
NOTES & BRILLIANT IDEAS
The Faith of Our Foremothers
We end this membership guide, the way our mother’s taught us, in prayer
Dear God,
We pause to say thank you
Thank you for life, health and strength, Thank you for one another.
Thank you for this bold new vision.
Speak to us God. Love, lead the way. We expect joy and justice for all.
God, please light a new fire in us
Like Sonia Sanchez said, “ that beautiful fire that gave light to the world
The fire of pyramids; The fire that burned through the holes of slave ships and made us breathe; The fire of sit-ins and marches that made us jump boundaries and barriers.”
Let our love sweep through the streets.
Please heal our bodies and minds
Restore our families
Revitalize our communities. Inspire our daughters to walk by faith with us. They will tell of your goodness. Like Harriet, we will put feet to our prayers. Like Fannie, we will let our lights shine through the darkest hours, we march on Like Sojourner Truth, we will lift our voices
We will plant seeds and leave a legacy of Your fruit: of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and discipline. The world will see our service and our sisterhood and be in awe.
We know you can do it because you ’ ve done it before. And we honor you.
May we have the faith of our foremothers Amen.
