Vanessa Garrison

Walking Legend

Washington, DC

@vanessatreks

TOPICS
Democracy
Activism
Health
Leadership

BOOK SPEAKER

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Vanessa Garrison is the Co-Founder of GirlTrek, a nonprofit organization that has inspired over 100,000 black women to commit to a daily habit of walking, transforming their health, their hope, and their hometowns in the process. GirlTrek is widely regarded to have done what millions, perhaps billions, of dollars in public health investment by well-meaning universities, healthcare systems, and philanthropic organizations could not—they changed behavior from the inside out, saving countless lives in the process.

Prior to co-founding GirlTrek, Vanessa worked with formerly incarcerated women, and on digital media projects. She and her collaborator and friend, Morgan Dixon, have been featured on the TED stage, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Essence Magazine. Their calling is speaking in front of audiences of black women about the thing that matters most to them: collective transformation.

If you look at decades of the conversation about health in this country, for women specifically, it’s been, 'How do you look in skinny jeans?' GirlTrek is asking, 'How do you feel? Do you have time for yourself?' It’s especially radical for women to talk about health in that way.

--Vanessa Garrison

Joy is inception. GirlTrek is fortunate to work with one of the most untapped resources in America: women who have made time for what lights them up.

--Vanessa Garrison

@FRESHSpeakers

RT @VillanuevaEdgar: Funding the Earth's keepers: The need for Indigenous climate philanthropy - my interview in @mashable - https://t.co… about 6 months ago
RT @pritikrishtel: Big news! This summer I’ll be transitioning out of my role as @IMAKglobal’s co-Executive Director. Going forward, my co-… about 6 months ago
RT @VillanuevaEdgar: Thanks, @mashable for lifting up #Indigenous leadership & @DecolonizWealth's Indigenous Earth Fund - moving millions t… about 6 months ago

FRESH Speakers, Inc. is a next-generation speakers bureau, uniquely representing women and people of color--two groups historically left off the public stage. Our speakers range from business leaders to artists, scientists to athletes. They have given ground-breaking TED talks and written best-selling books, but, more importantly, their wisdom comes from real world, lived experiences. FRESH speakers routinely grace the world's biggest thought leadership stages, host nonprofit benefits, and keynote Fortune 100 corporate retreats, university lecture series, leading tech conferences, grassroots organizing convenings, and countless other venues, the world over.

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