POWERFUL TOGETHER
BI-WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
April 22, 2021
Continuing the Fight for Justice
This month has been especially hard for our community as we continue to experience community trauma due to the loss of yet another unarmed Black man at the hands of a police officer. All while reliving Mr. Floyd’s senseless death as it has played out in the courts. We mourn with the families impacted by police brutality and grieve the tragic loss of life across the country. As an organization that believes in embracing individual power, we believe it is important to use your voice and continue to fight for justice.
Many of us are experiencing trauma triggers and complex emotions. Naming how you’re feeling and choosing to do something about it is important to your mental and physical health. Here is a list of resources for additional support.
ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Girls Are Powerful Day – Registration is OPEN
On May 22, GRP is holding Girls Are Powerful Day—an interactive, community-fostering virtual event dedicated to providing girls 8 to17 with the tools and techniques needed to nourish and maintain healthy self-esteem and fully embrace their inner power. This is a half-day event, 10 am to 2 pm CT, and attendees will receive an Activity Box full of materials to help us make the most of our time together!
We do not want the cost to prevent any girl from taking part; therefore, scholarships are available thanks to the generosity of Jamf and Women NOW, but you must register soon! Register TODAY by visiting this page!
There are also opportunities to volunteer, learn more on our registration page. Registration closes on May 1st.
Looking for Parent /Caregiver Feedback: Mentor Program:
During our last in-person Youth Conference, Girls Are Powerful leadership and participants got together and brainstormed ways to serve girls and young women better. The solution? A Mentor Program! Girls and adults both agreed that a mentor program would inspire girls to embrace their whole selves while building a community focused on celebrating their identities, nurturing self-love, and amplifying their powerful, unique voices.
When COVID-19 caused us to reimagine GRP’s programs, we started redesigning our curriculum and creating the foundation for a mentor program. As we continue to design the structure of this program we want to hear from YOU. Please help us create a program that would work best for you and your child’s needs. You can also complete our feedback form here.
We will be hosting an Informational Session as a part of the Girls Are Powerful Day on May 22.
Girls Are Powerful Selected for 2020 Impact List
We are thrilled to have made the 2020 Impact List, put together by Social Enterprise MSP and powered by the Bush Foundation. On May 6th at The Social Enterprise Impact Showcase, GRP will be recognized alongside 80+ Minnesota-based social enterprises, both nonprofits and for-profits, highlighting many stories of organizations using business as a tool for social impact.
More on the recognition event and the full list here.
Now Available! The Power of a Girl Magazine – Issue 2
If style and gossip magazines reinforced women’s strengths instead of preying on their anxieties, it might look a bit like The Power of a Girl, the yearly magazine published by girls. The magazine showcases the impact that Girls Are Powerful has had and continues to have on participants’ lives, self-esteem, and well-being. Read it online or help support Girls Are Powerful and purchase a copy today!
Get your GRP Coloring Book Today
In case you missed it, Girls Are Powerful has a coloring book! Help get rid of negative thoughts as you take in positivity through coloring. Coloring is proven to help reduce stress and anxiety since it calms your brain down, just like meditation. You can purchase the book here.
On April 24th, there is a FREE vaccine clinic at Great Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church
– 1800 Dupont Ave N in Minneapolis! If you’re 18+ and unvaccinated, call 612-588-9411 & press 3 to get an appointment time!
Your Teen Can Get A Vaccine!
The Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for people ages 16-17. It is safe and works for this age group. People ages 16-17 can get vaccinated with parent/guardian consent. People age 18+ can get any COVID-19 vaccine. Read more about it here.
Pause on Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
Last week, the CDC and FDA recommended temporarily pausing further administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine out of an abundance of extreme caution. The pause comes after six women between 18 and 48 experienced a rare and severe type of blood clot after getting their shot. Nearly 7 million people have already received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. For people who received the vaccine more than a month ago, the development of this condition is very unlikely. Other vaccines ARE still available. Go to https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/ to schedule a shot!
Vaccination Clinic at State Fair Grounds
A federal Community Vaccination Clinic at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds opened this week. It will receive 168,000 doses over eight weeks. Vaccinations serve Minnesotans living near the Fairgrounds. Appointments will be available to Minnesotans 16 years of age and older who live in specific zip codes. Sign up through the vaccine connector to get an appointment! https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/connector/
Join our APRIL Challenge!
Hopefully, you’ve been following along with our April SMART Challenge this month. If not, it’s not too later to join us for the last two weeks of activities. Here’s the calendar, jump right in and get your wellness on!
Power Move
A big thanks to Chance York, who joined us for Mindful Movement last week. If you missed it, you can see the session here and learn about practicing breathing and foundational yoga poses.
Up Next:
- Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 6 PM CT IntenSati with Leah Michael.
During this session we will be priming our body, mind, and heart through this sweat-dripping, heart-pumping, mood-lifting cardio class (think dance meets kickboxing meets yoga) which infuses powerful, positive spoken affirmations that will take your transformation from purely physical to totally holistic.
- Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 6 PM CT Beginners Yoga with Lisa Xiong!
Lisa is a certified yoga teacher, specializing in trauma-informed yoga. Her passion for promoting health and wellness stems from her belief that yoga is an outlet that can help us find inner peace.
Empower Hour
Join us for our next Empower Hour with Ricky Livingston via Facebook Live @6pm. Initially scheduled for April 22, this event is currently being rescheduled, click the link for updates. Tune in to learn information about the COVID-19 vaccine, recent updates, and staying safe with Ricky Livingston, a Health Educator from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Up Next:
- Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 4 PM PDT COVID-19 Vaccine Experience Panel
Tune in to hear about people’s experience with receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and ask these experts your hard questions!
May’s Theme is Spring Cleaning (Emotional, Physical)
Spring is in the air! Now is a good time to do some emotional and physical spring cleaning! Did you let a lot of emotions (and stuff) build up on your mental shelves this winter? Did you stuff your closet full of negative thoughts? It’s time to dust off those shelves and open up those doors to let those feelings air out!
“The best way to find out what you really need is to get rid of what you don’t.”
– Marie Kondo
Have a Conversation: Something Happened in our Town
This has been an incredibly trying time for all of us in Minneapolis as we’ve seen yet another unarmed Black man die at the hands of police. The Children’s Theater Company put together a video presentation of the children’s book, Something Happened in Our Town, to help the community navigate the complex emotions. We encourage you to watch it with your children and let them ask difficult questions.
Wonder Woman: Genevieve Hanson
Genevieve is a Minneapolis EMT and firefighter recently testified in front of the Minnesota court as a witness to the murder of George Floyd. Genevieve was courageous, strong, and articulate as she answered question after question. We commend Hansen, and the other girls, Darnella Frazier and her cousin, who also testified. We hope they stay strong as they grapple with the aftermath of these events and applaud their bravery. If you need resources for coping with the trial, visit: https://guildservices.org/resources-for-the-derek…/
Girl Talk! Powerful Conversations for Powerful Girls
The Youth Advisory Board just hosted it’s second Girl Talk with guest speaker, Tuera Holland. Mental health counselor Tuera, from Arcadia College, spoke about why such values are so vital for analyzing one’s own mental health. In this Girl Talk, members talked about various topics pertaining to mental health and the various impacts caused by COVID-19. April’s Girl Talk also examined the YAB values of compassion and confidence. Check out the talk here.
COVID Side Effects PSA
Calling attention to all those who have questions about the various side effects of the new COVID-19 vaccines! Youth Advisory Board member Evan has you covered! Listen in as she explains the difference between side effects from the vaccine and COVID-19 symptoms. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) encourages all who are qualified, to receive a dose if they can keep individuals safe and help stop the spread of the virus. A big thank you to Evan for continuing to share important updates from the MDH, check it out here.
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.