POWERFUL TOGETHER
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
September 24, 2021
Back To School
It’s been wonderful to get back to school. While there is excitement about being back and resuming our normal routines, many of us are still wrestling with anxiety about the future. We are moving into yet another phase of the pandemic where we still have questions about how COVID-19 and its variants spread. No matter your vaccination status, we all need to keep practicing prevention measures to keep ourselves and others protected. Time has shown that wearing masks and staying physically distanced is working. Help keep kids safe from COVID-19 by getting tested, masking up, and staying home if you’re not feeling well.
ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hello September!
We are revving up for Fall 2021 and have lots happening at GRP! In this short “Hello September” video, Girls Are Powerful’s CEO and Co-Founder, Shawntan Howell, talks about upcoming events and other projects we’re working on. Shawntan will be releasing a video each month to discuss upcoming events, so check them out!
New Date: Sunday in the Park with GRP!
On October 3, 1-4pm, we are hosting our Sunday in the Park event at Rice Park (109 4th St. W., Saint Paul, MN 55102). This will be our first in-person event since the pandemic and our focus is to give back to the community and ensure people have what they need to continue to navigate the pandemic. We will cover topics related to community togetherness, wellness, and personal care, and host a vaccine information station and clinic for ages 12+.
- Vaccine Clinic: Black Nurses Rock and a representative from the Minnesota Department of Health will be onsite to answer questions and administer the Pfizer (age 12+) and Moderna (age 18+) vaccine shots. NOTE: If you are 12-17, you will need to bring a parent or guardian to sign a permission form to receive the Pfizer shot. If you have received your first Pfizer or Moderna shot and it has been at least 3 weeks, you can receive your second shot on site.
- Community Wall: Write a thank you note to medical professionals or share your tip for living in the period of COVID-19.
- Book Drive: In partnership with Free Book Buggie, we will have lots of books for all ages! Come and create your own bookmark!
- Personal Care: Stop by for ideas on how to keep your calm this fall! We’ll have everything from breathing exercises to face masks to delicious baking recipes!
Mark yourself as “going” or “interested” on our Facebook event page here. We look forward to seeing you!
MENTOR PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS 
GRP’s Mentor Program inspires girls to build confidence, empowers them to embrace their whole selves, and shows them the path to lead future generations.
On Thursday, September 16, we held our 2nd virtual information session and provided the latest information about the Program. During this session, we also announced that our program will officially launch in 2022, and shared that we are continuing to finalizing our curriculum and align it to a three-year program schedule and continue to recruit mentors!
For those of you who joined us, thank you! If you are interested in being a mentor or signing your youth up as a mentee we invite you to visit the Mentor Program webpage to learn more.
MEET-UP SERIES
In the meantime, we will be hosting a 4-part meet-up series that will serve as an introduction to our Mentor Program and will welcome prospective Mentees and volunteer Mentors. Registration will be opening soon!
Flip the Script Podcast
Shawntan Howell was recently interviewed on the Flip the Script podcast about why she started GRP. In this 30 minute interview, Shawntan shares how she launched GRP to help young women own their power and embrace their individuality. Check it out:
- Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3dgRarZ
- Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Ma2v19
- Flip Your Script Website: https://bit.ly/3y34p9y
Meet the Girls Are Powerful Team!
We continue our Meet the Team social media campaign! If you haven’t had the chance, please take a moment and check out the latest features and get to know the Girls Are Powerful Board of Directors!
Are You Wearing Your Mask Correctly?
We’ve certainly seen people not wearing their mask correctly – like wearing it under their chin or not covering their nose – but are you wearing your mask correctly? As a reminder, you should have your nose and mouth covered and it should fit against your face without gaps. Also, it should be two layers of fabric! Check your favorite mask ( cause you know you have one) and make sure it has two layers of fabric.
Following Masking Guidelines
Minnesota Department of Health reminded us that many places have their own masking guidelines. Fully vaccinated or not, remember to respect the rules of the place you’re visiting and wear your mask in indoor public settings.
Vaccine Breakthrough Cases
Vaccines act like a raincoat. If you go out in the rain without a raincoat, you’ll probably get wet. If you wear a raincoat, you probably stay dry.
But, if you go out in the rain during a hurricane there’s a good chance you’ll get wet, even with your raincoat on. The Delta variant is a bit like a hurricane and if you’re in an area with lots of unvaccinated people, even if you’re vaccinated you might get sick. This is normal. No vaccine is 100% effective. Even though breakthrough cases might happen more as variants circulate, fully vaccinated people are much less likely to get really sick or need hospitalization, so the vaccines are still working. This is extremely important to make sure hospitals have enough beds for everyone and people who need emergency care can find it quickly. Getting vaccinated is the best way to help protect yourself and people around you from COVID-19.
Energy Assistance
Not everyone has dealt with the impacts of COVID equally. Many people are still struggling to get back to work and pay their bills. If you or someone you know needs assistance with their energy bills, please share this link. They may quality for assistance.
Power Move
We are looking forward to having Mia Wanna lead us for three of our Power Move sessions! These sessions are happening through Facebook LIVE 6-630p central time, on Tuesday,
- October 5th
- November 2nd
- December 7th
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.
“It is my life’s purpose to help others either become healthy and/or maintain a healthy lifestyle. We get one body, and one lifetime to care for it. Exercise, meditation, and breathing all play important roles in living our best lives. I really love what I do.” – Mia Wanna
Stay Tuned!
We are still working on assembling a great lineup of presenters for our Empower Hour series! If you have speakers you would like to hear from, please let us know! You can fill out an interest form here.
Turning A New Leaf
This fall, as the leaves change color, we’re exploring what it means to turn a new leaf. The expression means to start anew or to make a positive behavior change. Is there something you would like to start doing? Is there somewhere you feel like you might need a new start? Take time to explore this phrase and start incorporate the changes you want to see into your life.
Wonder Woman!
Our #WonderWoman this month is Nupol Kiazolu. Nupol is an American Activist and Founder of Vote 2000. She uses her platform to fight for and educate other on topics of racism, civil rights, and homelessness. She plans to run for president in 2036 and we can’t wait to see her up there!
Who Do You Think is a Wonder Woman?
There are countless incredible women out there doing thoughtful, brave, and trailblazing activities every day. Who do you look up to? Who should we feature? Could it be you or someone you know? We want to hear from you! Email girls@girlsarepowerful.org or send us a message on social media!
National Daughters Day September 25
It’s time to celebrate daughters on National Daughters Day this Saturday! Trying to think of how to celebrate? There’s are so many ways to mark this day. Parents can write a letter to their daughter, give a gift, make a special meal or plan a fun family activity. Take this time to recognize your daughter for the amazing person she is!