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Dear North Star Sisters,
There is something beautiful happening all across the country.
Every weekend, Black women are gathering on church steps, neighborhood sidewalks, walking trails, parks, and sacred spaces—welcoming neighbors, family members, and friends with open hearts. They are choosing movement over isolation, community over loneliness, and hope over despair.
I am inspired every time I hear about another faith community opening its doors for a community walk. From Trinity Church in Chicago, IL to First Baptist Church Greater Washington Park in Montgomery, AL to Mt. Zion Walking in Prosperity in Mobile County, AL to sisters gathering in Jackson, MS, Florida, Texas and California, I see something amazing taking place. Together, we're transforming sacred spaces into spaces of wellness, belonging, and hope—where women from every faith tradition, and women with no faith tradition at all, are welcome to walk together. It's beautiful to see.
This is the vision of the North Star Faith Community coming to life.
Thank you.
Thank you for faithfully leading.
Thank you for welcoming new walkers.
Thank you for creating safe spaces where women can gather, heal, pray, reflect, and belong.
Every conversation you facilitate, every walk you organize, and every woman you encourage helps another woman discover that healing doesn't have to happen alone. Whether you're walking with two sisters or two hundred, you are helping build a nationwide network of women choosing faith, healing, and sisterhood—one community at a time. As Harriet Tubman reminded us, every journey begins with a single step. Together, we're taking those steps every day.
Keep it moving and growing Sisters! Communities are being transformed!
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Join Us for Our July North Star Faith Gathering
Our next North Star Faith Gathering is quickly approaching, and I hope you've already marked your calendar. I would love to see you there as we gather for encouragement, reflection, prayer, and conversation.
Tuesday, July 28
8:00 PM EST | 7:00 PM CST | 6:00 PM MT | 5:00 PM PT
Register HERE | Join the Live Call HERE
Whether your camera is on or off, whether you're joining from your living room or while taking an evening walk, there is a place for you in this community.
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Have You Joined the Underground Yet?
If you haven't joined the GirlTREK Underground App<> yet—we are waiting for you Sis!
Your sisters are already there, cheering one another on, building walking streaks, celebrating milestones, and growing together. We've recently added exciting new features, including Apple Health and Google Health syncing, making it even easier to track your walking journey.
Come find your North Star Faith Crew and walk with us.
Let's Prepare for First Saturday Faith Walks
As July comes to a close, let's begin preparing for our next North Star First Saturday Faith Walk on Saturday, August 1st.
Whether your walk includes an entire congregation, a neighborhood prayer walk, a few sisters after Bible study, or simply two women walking faithfully together—every step matters.
As we gather as a Faith Community on August 1st, we'll also be walking in solidarity during Black August—a time of reflection, remembrance, resilience, and hope. Together we'll walk alongside our Justice Impacted sisters and all women whose lives have been touched by incarceration, reentry, recovery, or the justice system.
If your faith community has a prison ministry, recovery ministry, transitional housing partnership, or simply a heart for welcoming others, consider extending an invitation to walk together. You never know whose healing journey may begin with one simple walk.
If your church, congregation, faith community, or crew already has a First Saturday Faith Walk planned, I'd love to hear about it so we can celebrate and share your story with sisters across the country.
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Join our Summer Membership Meeting as we celebrate our impact and look ahead to what’s next.
Join us live on Wednesday, July 29 at 12 pm EST for our Summer Membership Meeting. During our one hour gathering, you’ll hear from GirlTREK National Staff & Leadership— including impact updates from across the movement, exciting new features inside The Underground app, a check-in from your Care Village and everything you need to know as we step into Black August.
This is a live, audio-only experience so lace up your shoes and walk while you listen in.
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Share Your Story
One of the greatest gifts we can give one another is our testimony. Every story reminds another sister that healing is possible. We'd love to hear:
✨ How did your July walks go?
✨ What stories, testimonies, or moments of connection stood out?
✨ Did someone new join your walks?
✨ Did healing happen?
✨ Did joy return?
Please continue sending your stories, photos, reflections, and testimonies. Your story may become another sister's reason to keep walking.
And don't forget to support the other Sisterhood Saturday experiences happening throughout the month with our Mothers, Caregivers, and Justice Impacted communities. Together, we're creating spaces where every woman can find the support she needs.
Are You Willing To Be a Faith Crew Leader?
If you feel called to lead—or you're simply curious about becoming a North Star Faith Crew Leader—I would love to connect with you. There is room for every woman willing to walk alongside another, regardless of faith tradition, denomination, or previous leadership experience.
If you're interested, simply reply to this email, reach out to me at Faith@GirlTREK.org, or complete our Faith Interest Form. Maybe you just need a refresher and to learn all the latest updates with GirlTREK. We have several crew leader trainings available each month.
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Leadership often begins with something as simple as saying, "I'll take the first step."
Remember, the North Star isn't simply the name of our Faith community—it reminds us that even when the path feels uncertain, there is always light to guide us. And sometimes, that light is another sister walking beside us.
Until we gather again, may your steps be strengthened, your spirit renewed, and your heart encouraged. May every mile you walk bring healing to you, hope to your community, and inspiration to another woman who is looking for someone to walk beside.
Keep walking.
Keep believing.
Keep leading.
With love and gratitude,
Cynthia Thompson
VP of Special Impact
North Star Faith Community
GirlTREK
Faith@GirlTREK.org
North Star Faith Resources
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