GirlTrek

Mobilizing a national health movement

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The Challenge

GirlTrek is a pioneer in the movement to help black women reverse the threat of preventable, obesity-related diseases that are disproportionately affecting them. The non-profit facilitates daily walking campaigns nationwide and mobilizes black women from all backgrounds to advocate for improved health services in their communities. 

After setting an ambitious goal to grow their membership to 1 million women, GirlTrek reached out to Openbox. The design collaboration helped scale GirlTrek’s training program and extend their impact on the way to a million members. 

The Outcome

Because GirlTrekkers are by definition on-the-go, Openbox designed a mobile training site that meets members wherever they are.

Mobilizing a national health movement
The playbook offers a self-guided way to get started with GirlTrek, and eventually make the transition from trekker to organizer.
Mobilizing a national health movementMobilizing a national health movement
GirlTrek

Mobilizing a national health movement

No items found.
Mobilizing a national health movementMobilizing a national health movement

Researching what works to build towards what’s next

To know what might be improved upon as GirlTrek invited in new members, Openbox began by understanding what was already working well with GirlTrek’s current training program. After extensive interviews with the GirlTrek leadership staff, long-time members, and newer recruits, it was clear that those who had been a part of the organization held a lot of institutional knowledge. Making that knowledge accessible by new members was key.

To scale training, Openbox leveraged "best of" content from the GirlTrek archives and filled gaps with newly-created modules. This dovetailed content approach created a clear, consistent story, making it easy for any new member to get up to speed quickly as well as find her most comfortable place within the movement.

Image courtesy of GirlTrek

Considering context to create truly effective tools

Because GirlTrekkers are by definition on-the-go, Openbox designed a mobile training site that meets members wherever they are. The site, accessible on any smartphone, packaged multiple tools into one platform. Members were able to use it when hosting walks in their neighborhoods, setting personal health goals, and even when recruiting new members.

Designing an experience where everyone is included

The playbook has a lot to offer to new GirlTrekkers and veteran organizers alike. In addition to mapping the journey of becoming a GirlTrek organizer, the playbook also describes four GirlTrek "roles"—levels of engagement within the world of GirlTrek organizing. 

The purpose of these "roles" is to combat volunteer burnout—a story we heard several times in our research. We wanted every woman to find her comfortable place in the movement and communicate clearly that all levels of contribution are valued.

Impact

The GirlTrek leadership team is planning to make the roll-out of the new training site a central component of the organization's growth strategy for 2018. The site will be integrated into GirlTrek.org for all members to access and it will also be used for online and in-person group training sessions.

Impact

The GirlTrek leadership team is planning to make the roll-out of the new training site a central component of the organization's growth strategy for 2018. The site will be integrated into GirlTrek.org for all members to access and it will also be used for online and in-person group training sessions.

Press
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Impact

The GirlTrek leadership team is planning to make the roll-out of the new training site a central component of the organization's growth strategy for 2018. The site will be integrated into GirlTrek.org for all members to access and it will also be used for online and in-person group training sessions.

Awards
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Impact

The GirlTrek leadership team is planning to make the roll-out of the new training site a central component of the organization's growth strategy for 2018. The site will be integrated into GirlTrek.org for all members to access and it will also be used for online and in-person group training sessions.

Press
Sample Press Item
Sample Press Item
Sample Press Item (No Link)
Sample Press Item (No Link)
Sample Press Item 2
Sample Press Item 2
Sample Press Item 3
Sample Press Item 3
Awards
Sample Award
Sample Award
Sample Award 2
Sample Award 2
Sample Award 3 (No Link)
Sample Award 3 (No Link)
Sample Award 4
Sample Award 4

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