“You do not need permission to save your own life and the lives of the women you love!”
This week’s GirlTrekker spotlight celebrates Carla Harris. She’s been a Trekker since 2015, starting as a volunteer and now serves as the Community Care Director. Learn more about the head of our Care Crusaders and her incredible GirlTrek origin story.
Where are you from, and where are you based?
I was born in Cleveland, OH, but I was raised in Shaker Heights, OH, Los Angeles, CA, and an itty bitty town called Massillon in Ohio! Currently, I live in Stone Mountain, which is east of Atlanta, GA.
Tell us your story in your own words.
I married my high school sweetheart 35 years ago, and we have 3 adult sons and 1 adult daughter. They are my world! I always have to acknowledge them first.
So fast forward to today, I lead GirlTrek’s Community Care Program, and, aside from being a wife and mother, this is the most inspiring and fulfilling role that I’ve ever had! I literally look forward to waking up so that I can start my day! I love what I do!
This role attracts the most beautiful and brilliant sisters on the planet. They are GirlTrek Care Crusaders. They are the source of my inspiration because they volunteer to support our members in the most inspiring ways! They are a lifeline to the sisters in our community who are trying to navigate difficult times. They truly are a guiding light! They show up, and they show out and are some of the most beautiful and brilliant sisters I know. I learn so much from them. They are truly superheroes!
By day they are industrial engineers, tech support specialists, national mental health instructors, researchers, therapists, doctors, educators, and healers. They have vast backgrounds, and they are the reason why GirlTrek Cares is the most inspiring support program for Black women in the universe! They answer calls on our sister support hotline. They do Sisterfriend wellness check-ins with our members. Don’t be surprised if they tag you on a post, slide in your dm’s, or call to check on you. I am so grateful for their commitment to lifting, loving, and supporting the sisters in our community who need it most, so I wanted to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of them for their service. YOU ARE THE REAL HEROES!
What is one thing you love most about GirlTrek?
This is hard. There are so many reasons. But the one thing I love most is our co-founders Morgan and Vanessa! Their vision, love, support, and commitment to Black women’s health and wellness and how they don’t put any of us in a box. From the beginning, as a volunteer, they empowered and inspired me to walk in the direction of my healthiest and most fulfilled self and to do whatever it takes to advocate for Black women’s health. They have always said, “You do not need permission to save your own life and the lives of the women you love!”
What is your superpower?
Bringing people together in inspiring ways. Whether it’s hosting an intimate Girls night out with my homies, helping to organize an end of season bash to celebrate our wonderful volunteers and organizers, or creating space for the rockstars in our community to help support the most vulnerable members in our community, I love to find inspiring ways to intersect brilliant, gifted, beautiful, inspiring, and generous sisters in meaningful ways!
What's one thing you do for self-care?
Remixing my mom’s recipes while listening to her favorite songs. Gladys Knight, Minnie Rippleton, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Temptations! That is the best feeling. Rocking out to Motown and letting my mom's spirit guide my hands. For Thanksgiving a few years ago, I remixed her candied yams and made bourbon-glazed yams! Oh my goodness! They were so freaking delicious!
Fun Fact: My beautiful mom, Kay Lorraine Haynesworth, is the reason I work for GirlTrek!
She sends inspiration and instruction to me from heaven! Each year ever since her death, I would look for an inspiring organization to volunteer with, and I would dedicate those hours to the memory of my beautiful mom. She died too young from a preventable disease at the age of 52. Well, 6 years ago, it was that time again! I was looking for an org to volunteer with, and an article came up about GirlTrek that said, “Aren’t you tired of our mommas and aunties dying too soon?” I was so inspired and joined the movement that day and never looked back.
Thank you, mom! Great looking out!
What is one message you want all Black women to know?
That you are not alone! That it’s okay not to be okay. That by being a part of GirlTrek, you become part of a dynamic sisterhood. We are here for you! We have a beautiful team of Care Crusaders that are here to be a listening ear, a lifeline, a sister's keeper, a north star. We are not going to sit idly by and watch our sisters suffer. Not on our watch!
Our volunteers are great listeners and share great resources! Call us: 855.GRL.TREK.