POWERFUL TOGETHER
BI-WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
May 20, 2021
Things Are Moving Fast
Last May, it felt like time was standing still as COVID-19 quickly spread around the world. But so much can change over the course of a year. The number of people vaccinated is growing by the day, inching us closer to the end of this pandemic. So much so, that the mask mandate has been lifted for fully vaccinated people! The end is in sight, we just need to keep up the good work and continue to get people vaccinated so we can meet the state’s 70% vaccination goal so we can re-open!
ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Attend our Parent/Caregiver Circle on May 22 at 9-10 AM CST
Join us at our Parent / Caregiver Circle where we work together to create a community of empowered girls. In this session, we discuss what it means to Confide in and Guide our girls today. As part of our conversation, we are excited to introduce our new Mentor Program. At this event, we will be sharing more information about the program and how you and your daughter can help grow and shape this program with GRP for years to come. We are also currently looking for volunteers – women over age 24, high school-aged students who would like to mentor younger girls, and of course, mentees ages 8-18! There’s a spot for everyone in our new program. If you are interested in attending this event, please email us at girls@girlsarepowerful.org
Girls Are Powerful Day is THIS Saturday!
This Saturday, May 22, GRP is holding its first Girls Are Powerful Day—dedicated to providing girls 8 to 17 with the tools needed to maintain healthy self-esteem and fully embrace their inner power. We are partnering with Jamf, Women NOW and Mom’s On the Run to bring you this terrific event. We could not do this without these amazing sponsors or without the help and support from our incredible volunteers, THANK YOU!
Girls Are Powerful on Communities that KARE
A big thank you to KARE 11 for shining a spotlight on our nonprofit, including an interview with our founder and CEO Shawntan Howell! There are a lot of beautiful faces in this piece going all the way back to 2014. Click the link to read the full story and see videos and photos from our many events!
Call for Brand Ambassadors
Get involved as a virtual volunteer for Girls Are Powerful! We’re looking for people with a desire and a commitment to empower and encourage girls! Use your voice to speak up for girls in our community. To learn more about our program, visit our page here at www.girlsarepowerful.org/brand-ambassador/
RE-Opening Timeline
Have you heard about the re-opening goals for the state of Minnesota? We have a three-step timeline to end nearly all state COVID-19 restrictions by May 28 in Minnesota. This is because we are on track to vaccinated 70% of the population by June 1 (Whoo-hoo!) Check out the estimated timeline for business re-openings!
Lifting the Mask Mandate
Last week, the CDC ended the mask mandate for all fully vaccinated people. It doesn’t mean you don’t have to ever wear a mask again – it is strongly recommended you continue to wear them indoors. You must still wear them in schools and daycare facilities, as well as on public transportation. However, you no longer have to wear them outside (just in time for summer!)
Vaccine Hesitation for the Young & Healthy
You might think you don’t need a vaccine because you’re young and healthy, but you do! The vaccine is a community effort! Even if you’re young, getting infected with COVID could cause life-long symptoms. Getting the shot is a community effort that will help us end the pandemic sooner and with lower chances of vaccine-resistant variants. Please consider getting vaccinated as soon as you can!
Your Pre-Teen Can Get A Vaccine!
Have you heard? Now all Minnesotans age 12 and older are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine! The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for people ages 12-17. It takes two weeks after your final dose for your body to build up protection. To get your shot, contact your health care provider, local pharmacy, or visit https://vaccineconnector.mn.gov/en-US/.
Resuming the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
Last month, CDC and FDA recommended temporarily pausing further administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine out of an abundance of extreme caution. After significant testing, it’s been deemed safe and is approved to resume. Here are some fast facts about it in case you’d like to learn more:
In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health, we are presenting the Your Wellbeing Matters Challenge to help build immunity and stay healthy in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are ways you can join us!
Next Calendar Challenge: CONFIDENCE!
Want your shot at not only building your confidence but winning a prize? Complete the CONFIDENCE calendar this month and don’t forget to mark your progress! You must complete at least ten out of this month’s activities and register to be entered to win a prize. Do you need a printable Your Wellbeing Matters Challenge activity calendar for our month of confidence? If so, visit our website to get yours today!
Power Move
A big thanks to Leah Michael and Lisa Xiong for leading us through recent sessions of IntenSati and Beginners Yoga! If you missed it, just click on the links to join in on the movement.
Up Next:
- Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 6 PM CT QiGong with Susan Miles
Tune in for gentle movement with Susan Miles who will lead us through a QiGong practice. Qigong is an Asian form of yoga that has been around for thousands of years. The guiding principle of Qigong is the coordination of the eyes with body movements.
- Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 6 PM CT Yoga Flow with Myrika Schneider
Join us for 30 minutes of medium intensity yoga to help loosen sore muscles, increase mobility and stability and leave you feeling relaxed and grounded guided by Myrika Schneider.
Empower Hour
Big thank you to Ricky Livingston, a Health Educator from the Minnesota Department of Health for talking to us about the vaccine. If you missed his talk, you can find it here.
Join us for our next Empower Hour COVID-19 Vaccine Experience Panel via Facebook Live @6pm TONIGHT. Tune in to hear about people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Bring your questions and share your thoughts. We encourage you to attend and use this resource to answer any questions or concerns you might have.
Up Next:
- Thursday, June 17, 2021 Staying Resilient with Dr. Caroline Colleen
Join us to discover mindsets and techniques to remain resilient. Dr. Colleen is a speaker, author, and coach. Carolyn developed the F.I.E.R.C.E. 5 method, which helped her grow into a confident and successful person, living a happy life she never realized she deserved.
June’s Theme is SUMMER
Grab your sunscreen, stock up on bug spray, get ready for Summer 2021! How will you make the most of your summer?
Before the sunshine is out in full force, it’s good to take a moment of reflection to think about how you can plan a fun, relaxing, and/or meaningful summer. What did you do last year that you want to repeat? What did you do that you don’t want to do again?
Supporter Spotlight!
Jillian and her sister Krista are co-owners of Chic Avenue Boutique, an online and popup women’s clothing boutique looking to create happiness and inspire confidence in women through style and community. Chic Avenue Boutique in 2020 donated to Girls Are Powerful 10 percent of sales from their Shop for a Cause event, along with 100 percent of profits from the sale of the Beautiful Hearts Tee, a Chic Avenue Exclusive showcasing the beauty of diversity in our community. We are so grateful to have Jillian and Krista as part of the GRP community! Read more
Reminder to Wear A Mask: In Song
The Youth Advisory Board has made a helpful song to help remind individuals to continue to wear their protective face masks even in the midst of the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions. The YAB’s face mask song is to the tune of Doja Cat’s hit song “Say So” to help individuals learn it more easily. Two YAB members, Olivia and Sherry, are in the midst of making their own TikToks to the lyrics of the song! Stay tuned to check out the creative genius of this group. In the meantime, you can follow us on the Girls Are Powerful TikTok here.
Girl Talk! Powerful Conversations for Powerful Girls
YAB is planning its May/June Girl Talk with guest speaker Jamie Finkenthal! Jamie works as a plus-size model and will cover topics such as her journey to becoming a model, her thoughts on dieting/diet culture, body confidence, and body inclusivity in the fashion industry. Jamie’s Girl Talk is scheduled to be held soon! Check out April’s Girl Talk with Teura Holland.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WORK
Check out the Youth Advisory Board web page at www.girlsarepowerful.org/youth-advisory-board
Are you interested in your youth joining the Youth Advisory Board? Complete our Interest form here.