POWERFUL TOGETHER
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
October 28, 2021
Fall Check-In
Some people simply can’t get enough of fall – the leaves, the cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice – but not everyone feels that way! The colder weather and shorter days can be hard on people, making them feel alone or even depressed. This month happens to be Emotional Wellness Month, so take a beat, notice the changes around you, and think about your emotional and physical wellbeing. Are there coping mechanisms you can devise if you’re struggling? How are your friends and family members doing? Also, part of practicing wellbeing is protecting your health, especially during a pandemic. The best way to reduce risks of breakthrough infections is wearing masks in public, washing your hands frequently, and staying distanced from people outside your home. Here’s wishing everyone a happy, healthy fall!
ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Trick or Treat Safely!
Halloween is just around the corner, this year if you plan to hand out candy (or tricks) or go trick-or-treating, please remember to be safe so everyone can have a fun and healthy outing. A few tips and suggestions:
- If you feel sick, stay at home.
- Stay outdoors.
- Maintain six feet of distance from people outside your household. If one house looks a bit crowded, maybe try another house that isn’t as busy.
- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth. A costume mask is not a COVID-safe face covering.
Also, some other common-sense tips:
- Choose practical shoes.
- Carry a flashlight or glowstick so cars can see you.
- Throw away candy if the wrapper is torn.
- Bring along hand sanitizer to use when needed.
Happy Halloween!!
Response Requested! How has GRP Impacted You?
We are looking for stories, testimonials or pictures from past participants to highlight our work over the past eight years. Have you attended an event or workshop before? What was your favorite part? What do you remember the most? We’d love to hear from you! Please email us at girls@girlsarepowerful.org
Give to the Max is Coming on November 18!
Girls Are Powerful’s largest annual fundraising event is Give to the Max. This year, help support our work by donating to our page and inspiring others to give! Early giving starts on November 1! You can give early by going to our page at https://www.givemn.org/organization/Girls-Are-Powerful
Please help us support the limitless potential of girls by donating during Give to the Max!
Looking for Volunteers!
Did you know that volunteering can reduce stress, increase happiness, and even strengthen communities? The benefits of volunteering are endless. If you are looking to support a cause or organization, you’re in luck because GRP is currently looking for volunteers! We have a variety of activities where we could use some support, to learn more about volunteering with us please visit Become a Volunteer.
Thank You for a Wonderful Sunday in the Park
A big thank you to everyone who came out to support Sunday in the Park on October 3! Thanks to all of the volunteers that helped make the day a success. We were joined by Black Nurses Rock, who helped vaccinate a few folks, we got lots of great tips for living a healthy life on our community wall, and it was great to have the Free Book Buggie there. Thanks all!
Meet the Girls Are Powerful Team!
We are so pleased to continue to introduce you to members of the Girls Are Powerful Board of Directors. You can read about all of the members here on our blog.
Kids Deserve a Shot
The State of Minnesota is launching ‘Kids Deserve a Shot’ to reward Minnesota youth ages 12-17, for completing their vaccine series and building the broad community protection needed to keep our families
and educators safe. The program consists of two sets of rewards for fully vaccinated teens:
- A $200 Visa gift card for 12-17 year olds who start and complete their vaccine series over the next six weeks, and
- Five weeks of drawings for $100,000 Minnesota college scholarships and other fun Minnesota experiences for 12-17 year olds who have completed their vaccine series at any point in 2021.
‘Kids Deserve a Shot’ rewards students for getting their shot, protecting themselves, and keeping our schools, communities, and state safe. You can learn more details about the program and register here.
COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids Under 12
Did you see the news!? This week, the FDA’s vaccine advisory committee voted to recommend the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11. This means we are closer to protecting children from COVID-19 through vaccination! Next, the FDA will have to formally accept this recommendation and then CDC’s vaccine advisory committee will meet to provide the recommendations doctors and other health care providers need before they start vaccinating. Once final recommendations are released, Minnesota will be able to vaccinate eligible children! If you have questions about the vaccines for your child, now is a good time to start talking with your pediatrician or family physician.
Once CDC has approved the vaccine for 5-11 and your child is eligible, Minnesota families can:
- Check with their pediatrician or family medicine clinic website about appointments;
- Visit mn.gov/vaccine to use the Vaccine Locator Map to locate and contact providers near them;
- Use the CDC’s Vaccine Finder at vaccines.gov to find pharmacies offering pediatric vaccinations; or
- Look to your local school district for more information about vaccination opportunities in your child’s school.
COVID-19 Test-at-Home Program
Minnesota provides free COVID-19 testing at walk-in sites and a test-at-home program. There is no limit to the number of at-home saliva test kits you can order. Once your test arrives, please take it and send it in as soon as possible. Learn more here or call the customer service line at 800-800-5698 to order your free at-home test kits.
Boosters
Vaccination is the best protection against COVID-19. Like many of the vaccines we receive, boosters are needed to maintain a higher level of protection. Certain people who have received the COVID-19 Pfizer or Moderna vaccine are recommended to get a booster shot at least 6 months after their second dose. Those who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a booster shot at least 2 months after their first dose. Officials also authorized “mixing and matching” COVID-19 vaccine boosters, meaning anybody who is eligible to get a booster shot can get any of the three currently authorized or approved vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson) – regardless of what dose they received for their primary series.
Health officials recommend getting a booster shot if you:
- Are 65 years of age or older.
- Live in a long-term care facility.
- Are 50-64 years old with certain underlying medical conditions
Learn more about booster shots and who should get one HERE.
Power Move
Power Move is back! This once-a-month movement series is part of the Your Wellbeing Matters initiative. It features health and wellness specialists to keep us moving, informed and connected. These 30-minute sessions are brought straight to you via Facebook Live.
Mia Wanna will lead us for three of our Power Move sessions! In these sessions, she will focus on calisthenics, interval training, and Barre. Mia has been in the fitness industry since 2014. She started at the YMCA where she became a certified fitness instructor, and has received a Barre certificate through DharmaCycleYoga. She also teaches HIIT which she is a certified Metafit coach. The upcoming sessions are happening through Facebook LIVE 6-630p CT:
- Tuesday, November 2nd
- Tuesday, December 7th
Emotional Wellness Month
October is Emotional Wellness Month. Emotional wellbeing is closely connected to our overall health. If ignored or overlooked, emotional and mental stress can cause poor health, it can weaken your immune system or even cause negative physical reactions. For many people, emotional wellness means finding ways to manage our stress. If you are feeling stressed, take a moment to practice deep breathing, do some yoga, or go take a walk in nature. Maintaining balance in your life is a key component of emotional wellness.
Wonder Woman!
Our #WonderWoman this month is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, aka AOC. She is a political activist and the youngest woman to have been elected to Congress at age 29. She was appointed in 2019 to serve as the U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district.
The Youth Advisory Board is a volunteer group of girls, ages 12 through 17, who help organize and create projects to help our community. Over the past year, the YAB has done some incredible work, including a COVID-19 PSA, a video series to help students adjust to distance learning, and even a music video encouraging mask-wearing!
We couldn’t be more excited to announce that we are looking for new members! If you know a creative girl between the ages of 12 and 17 looking for ways to engage with her community – consider asking her to apply. This is a great opportunity to try something new, meet girls outside her social circle, and show off her leadership and project management skills.
To learn more, check out the Youth Advisory Board web page. If you are interested in joining, please complete our Interest form here.