Our Story

It started with two friends
in Los Angeles, CA

Morgan and Vanessa met as college friends. They bonded over 2Pac, Nikki Giovanni and their inability to say no to smothered pork chops. GirlTrek was never an "aha moment" but a shared belief in radical acts of self-care.

The GirlTrek Movement is Born!

We challenged our friends and families to walk with us - we walk to heal our bodies, inspire our daughters and reclaim the streets of our neighborhoods.

A Deeper Call to Action

Morgan shares her personal testimony:

"Something happened when I started to walk. The pace of the world slowed down. I started to heal. I became more aware of my body, more aware of the world around me. When I walked I felt transported."

"We don't just rattle off daunting statics, we are the statistics. We stay awake at night, have endless brainstorms, and are compelled to act every day. I calculated the average life expectancy of the women in the immediate family.It was 66."

Vanessa Garrison

Co-Founder, GirlTrek

April 2012

Volunteers Catch the Fire! Women Around the Country Organize Walks.

Eureka! A Community of Supporters Rally For the Cause

GirlTrek officially became a nonprofit organization and received its first major support from Teach for America.

"I was absolutely struck - by their leadership and passion and by the potential for GirlTrek to be a game changer for kids and communities in America!"

Wendy Kopp

CEO, Teach for America

15,000 Gather onthe National Mall#WeAreHarriet

GirlTrek organizes the largest moving tribute to the baddest freedom fighter the world has ever seen. Why? Because if Harriet could walk to freedom, we can walk for better health.

June 2013

The Media Starts Paying Attention. It Started with a Great Story by a Journalist from NationSwell.

"We are not a workout group. We are an army of women who are sick and tired of being sick and tired."

Vanessa Garrison

Reclaiming Our Streets

Wherever there’s injustice you can find GirlTrek on the frontlines. We walk to heal our bodies, inspire our daughters and reclaim the streets of our neighborhood.

August 2013

GirlTrek Named Top 1% of Social Innovators in the World by Echoing Green joining a global community of changemakers in delivery bold, innovative solutions to the world.

May 2013

GirlTrek Establishes National Volunteer Corps. Grassroots Organizers Train in Upstate NY. Like 60's Freedom Riders, volunteers took the bus to the training listening to Mavis Staples.

February 2014

Started from the bottom! Now our mamas finally understand that we have REAL jobs. GirlTrek is honored as health heroes by Essence Magazine.

Selfies at The White House!

Imagine their surprise when Morgan and Vanessa got an email from the First Lady inviting them to The White House! From Michelle Obama to the 18th US Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin who serves on the GirlTrek board, GirlTrek is representing at the highest levels.