June 2016 - Parks & Recreation - 28

People for Parks
GirlTrek's Moving Meditation

The walking group for African-American women supports health while promoting
solidarity
By Samantha Bartram

" W

hen black women walk, things change, " says Vanessa
Garrison, co-founder and chief of operations at GirlTrek. Garrison isn't just talking about physical health,
although positive change in that department is certainly
an outcome of involvement with GirlTrek. Rather, she's referring to a host of
social impacts that result from the mobilization and action of African-American women. GirlTrek aims to provide a platform for one of the world's
most-marginalized populations to get healthy, gain confidence and transform
neighborhoods.
the message, " Garrison recalls. " We
received about 600 responses from all
across the country. At the end of 10
weeks, we weren't prepared for what
happened. The success stories flooded in and people didn't want it to end.
We heard, 'This is changing my life.
When are we going to do it again?' "
Struck by the overwhelming response and personally moved by the

GirlTrek

Inspiration and Action
Six years ago, Garrison and her friend
and GirlTrek co-founder, T. Morgan
Dixon, were struck with an idea -
a 10-week challenge inviting black
women to head outside and start
walking. " We emailed 200 friends,
family members, colleagues - basically all of the black women we
know - and asked them to forward

26	 Parks & Recreation

| J U N E 2 0 1 6 | W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

impact of the 10-week challenge,
Garrison and Dixon formed GirlTrek, a revolutionary approach to
fitness and community. " The reality
is, black women and girls are living
under some trying circumstances in
today's world, " Garrison says. " They
live in communities that are under
extreme stress, whether it be from
crime, health disparities, blight or
even gentrification. We believe that
when these women become active,
they become powerful agents for
change, and GirlTrek is here to support them. "
Walking and Civil Rights
GirlTrek challenges its members to
walk once a day, every day, in solidarity and in health. As Garrison
puts it, " Walking is often underestimated. It may be the single best way
to improve your overall health. Walking works: It is affordable, accessible
and culturally relevant. " That last
descriptor may give some pause, but
Garrison sees GirlTrek as deeply
rooted in the Civil Rights movements
of yesteryear and today. She points to
the influence of Fanny Lou Hamer,
the lauded voting rights activist, as
having a significant impact on the
formation and mission of GirlTrek.
" Before [Fanny Lou Hamer] was
the iconic Civil Rights activist, she
was one of us, " Garrison says. " Her
formal education was limited. The
most powerful thing about Fannie
Lou Hamer wasn't her heart-wrenching story of being jailed and beaten.



June 2016 - Parks & Recreation

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