There is a health crisis in America and Black women and girls are among the hardest hit.
As we carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, it’s imperative for Black women to know that self-care is crucial to self-preservation. And while we are often overlooked, unappreciated, underpaid and overworked, one question always lingers in the back of our mind: We’ve got y’all, but who’s got us?
That’s where GirlTrekcomes in. As the largest nonprofit focused on the health of Black women in the country, the organization is committed to improving the lives of black women. With more than 150,000 members nationwide, GirlTrek encourages Black women and girls to use radical self-care and walking as the first practical step to leading a healthier, more fulfilled life.
More than 300 Black women from around the country will gather in the Rocky Mountains for a weekend dedicated to radical self-love, self-care, self-exploration and sisterhood in GirlTrek’s second annual #StressProtest to take place Labor Day weekend 2018. But self-care is much more than just indulgence and making yourself feel good with easy methods. True self-care also involves doing and saying things you’ve been avoiding, things that pain you to do. “Self-care is a revolutionary act and at GirlTrek, self-care is the foundation of all that we do,” said GirlTrek cofounder, Vanessa Garrison.
Garrison continues, “So, you ask, ‘What exactly is a #StressProtest?’ Well, it is the ultimate self-care experience, exactly what you need to rejuvenate your soul and reclaim your inner peace. The health of Black women is a freedom fight and spending time in nature among hundreds of Black women reflecting on sisterhood and the significance of self-love and self-care is just what we need to forge ahead.”
Set to the backdrop of the Rocky Mountain National Park, a 415-square mile encompass of spectacular mountain environments with more than 300 hiking trails and overlooks as high as 12,000 feet, the #StressProtest is an affordable girl’s trip of outdoor relaxation, mindful moments, workshops on health and wellness topics from natural hair to mental health to pleasure on purpose and more.
“The reality is Black women and girls are living under trying circumstances. Many of us live in communities that are under extreme stress whether it be from crime, lack of a living wage, blight or gentrification and the current political climate only making matters worse. The #StressProtest is a break from that,” Garrison adds.“Imagine it: Black women coming together to hike, horseback ride, meditate, eat s’mores around the campfire and love up on one another. The #StressProtest is the summer camp experience you’ve always wanted.”
