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editor's note
Dear <<First Name>>,
As February and Black History Month draw to a close, you might be thinking: Where do we go from here? What can we do next to care for Black lives and Black livelihood in equal measure all the other months of the year? It’s a big question.
We’ve been thinking a lot about the systems around us, and particularly the wellness industry. The question we keep coming back to is: Who gets to be well? At GNI, the question of downtime and care is a constant one. Who can spend their weekends relaxing? Who has the privilege of being "comfortable?" Who has the time to invest in taking care of themselves? Unfortunately, wellness is simply not an equitable space yet, and there's a lot of work still to do.
In thinking about wellness — and who gets to be well — we know several things to be true. Covid disproportionately affects Black communities. Maternal mortality rates continue to be too high among Black mothers. Medical racism is real and well-documented. Black folx do not have nearly enough access to mental health resources. And the list of disparities in care goes on.
One way to continue to engage in this conversation past February is to support the efforts of Black folx working to create more equitable access to wellness. Here are some people and orgs to follow, support, and keep up with as we strive to close the gap and make wellness more accessible to all:
💫 Rachel Cargle, Founder and President of the Loveland Foundation
Rachel founded the Loveland Foundation in 2018 to increase access to therapy for Black women and girls — allowing for greater healing in communities of color through fellowships, residencies, listening tours, and more.
Follow Rachel here and the Loveland Foundation here.
💫 Najla Austin, CEO & Founder of Ethel’s Club and Somewhere Good
Inspired by her grandmother Ethel Lucas, Naj founded Ethel’s Club as a community to celebrate people of color and provide space and resources to help them grow and thrive.
Follow Naj here and Ethel’s Club here.
💫 Erica Chidi, CEO & Founder of Loom
Erica founded Loom as a wellbeing platform, empowering women through sexual and reproductive health education. Loom has also worked to #protectblackbirth, building anti-racist care preferences to help Black women advocate for their best interest during pregnancy and childbirth.
Follow Erica here and Loom here (ahead of their spring 2021 relaunch).
💫 Jessamyn Stanley, Founder of The Underbelly Yoga
A yoga community that celebrates racial inclusivity, radical honesty, and differences, Underbelly Yoga — founded by Jessamyn Stanley — is designed for everyone who feels overlooked and underserved by the wellness industry.
Follow Jessamyn here and Underbelly Yoga here.
How are you marking the end of Black History Month while acknowledging the work still left to do? Reply to let us know — we'd love to hear from you.
Until next week,
The GNI Team
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community updates...
🎉 We're excited to share that our team at No Plans Inc. is growing! We're looking for an experienced full-time Growth and Marketing Manager to superpower our community across Girls' Night In and Whiled. Take a peek at the job description and application here.
📚 In March, our GNI book club pick is.... *drumroll, please* Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz! We'll be hosting book clubs and gathering about the book on our membership community, The Lounge. Join the waitlist here. (content warning: racism, pregnancy loss.)
🐌 Are you as obsessed with Not Work Related's ceramic mugs as we are? Our sibling brand, Whiled, is hosting a giveaway in support of The Black School House's final push toward their $300,000 fundraising goal. Learn more on how to enter here.
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weekly picks
what we're recommending this week...
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The Shelves™ (via @hothouse.jungle)
- How to really commit to it... 👩🍳 “A friend of mine recently asked me, ‘What’s something nice you're doing for yourself in quarantine?’ My answer: devote myself to a project, like cooking through a full cookbook, Julie & Julia-style. I landed on Dessert Person because Claire Saffitz includes so many great baking techniques, but there are lots of amazing options that are fully cookable, like the Dishoom cookbook or (a personal fave) The Tucci Table cookbook.” - Mariah, Whiled Team
- If you're riding out your quarantine hair... 🧖♀️ "My hair has been an absolute mess this past year — probably because I haven’t gotten it cut this entire time. I recently decided to invest in this hair towel, and when I say my hair is tangle-free, I really do mean it." - Olivia, Community Team
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The best part of spring cleaning is… 😏 making room in your closet for new shoes and accessories. From now through March 1, Nisolo is holding their semi-annual sale (read: this only happens twice a year!) on seasonal bestsellers, factory seconds, sample styles, and more. Is this the perfect time to stock up on a Chelsea boot or those mules you've been eyeing? We'll let you decide. GNI readers can also receive an exclusive 20% off full-priced items with code GIRLS20. #SPONSORSTHING
- A daily prompt that creates itself... "As the weather's finally warming up here (!), I've been getting into writing 'nature haikus.' On my daily walks, I'll take a photo or video of icy branches of a nearby tree, for example, and pair it up with a fun haiku. Most of them I don't share publicly and it's really just a practice for myself to notice nature and create a little each day, two things I find really nourishing." - Alisha, CEO/Founder
- If your books runneth over... 📚 "I've recently been on a shelf search journey, and after much research, I landed on a set from Floyd that I can't stop looking at and styling. Since this was my first major furniture purchase, I prioritized understanding where the materials came from and where they’re manufactured as part of my checklist. So far, I've been really impressed with what I got." - Mary Anne, Community Team
- An unexpectedly amazing IKEA find... 🔪 "I recently bought a butcher block that has a little ledge to keep against your counter and I am obsessed with it. I always have a cutting board out because my counters are matte and show every little bit of wet or grease. This big one just feels so much more official and kitcheny and cool (and the best part is it stays in place!)." - Katrina, Partnerships Team
- Just a really cool lamp... 💡"This is at the tippity top of my 'things I don't need but definitely want' list." - Alisha
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Social media with a soul... 💬
Are you a human? If so, you're in! Voice is on a mission to take social media back by empowering real people and real talk.
🗣 Create. Share an article you loved. Weigh in on something dear to your heart. With Voice, the goal is making people feel heard on topics that are important to them.
👾 While some platforms have allowed bots and fake accounts to set the tone, Voice's promise is simple: no bots, no fake accounts, and no shady algorithms.
💞 Voice is currently invite-only, but GNI readers can get early access now. Sign up today to bring the soul back to social media.
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read/watch/listen
what we're turning our attention to this weekend...
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🌟 Reading...
Feeling Overstimulated? You're Not Alone | Architectural Digest
The Water Bottle That Won't Leave You Alone | The New York Times
Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome | Harvard Business Review
Roxane Gay on HGTV, Racism, and "Who Deserves to Own a Home" | TV Club
Megan Thee Stallion and Rep. Maxine Waters on Misogynoir, Saying No, and the Genius of WAP | Harper's Bazaar
🍿 Watching...
Minari
“I watched a virtual screening of Minari, which tells the story of a Korean American family that settles down on an Arkansas farm, and I found it so authentic and beautiful. It is a slice-of-life film centering a BIPOC immigrant family, something I have not necessarily seen in popular culture, although it’s a real story that relates to so many, including myself.” - Mariah
Selena + Chef (HBO Max)
"Do you need a pretty easy-to-watch, low-stakes show to pass the time? Look no further and watch Selena Gomez try to cook alongside top chefs like Roy Choi, Nancy Silverton, and Jon & Vinny. You're guaranteed a laugh as she learns knife skills (um, sort of), takes 3 episodes to learn what mise en place actually means, scrambles to identify and locate a Microplane in her kitchen, and bakes snax for some cute and floofy puppies that roam around her straight-out-of-Anthropologie home." - Alisha
A Woman's Place (Hulu)
"I went on a marathon of documentary-style watching this past weekend, starting with Framing Britney Spears, before settling into A Woman's Place, which follows three women in the culinary industry and the sexism they faced early in their careers. Finally, I landed where I often do: wrapping the weekend up with several old episodes of Parts Unknown." - Mary Anne
Judas and the Black Messiah (HBO Max)
(content warning: police brutality, racism, violence)
"A few weeks ago, I watched The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix). This past weekend, I really appreciated following it up with Judas and the Black Messiah for a lot of reasons, but especially because this movie centered the story of Fred Hampton, a Black Panter activist who advises Bobby Seale, the only Black defendant in the case, and provided the backstory that I didn’t see earlier." - Olivia
I Care A Lot (Netflix)
"Okay, I also have to shoutout this movie on Netflix— which Peter Dinklage and Rosamund Pike are SO. GOOD. IN. Pike's performance is chilling, and I was entertained the entire time. It's a movie that definitely keeps you guessing 'til the end. If you liked Gone Girl, you'll probably like this." - Alisha
WandaVision (Disney+)
"I've already said my WandaVision piece (TLDR: you should watch it!), but this week, I'm just here for The Hahnaissance." - Carey, Content and Community Team
🎧 Listening...
"I've been listening to this new-to-me playlist while working, and it's just perfect. Vibey but not distracting." - Alisha
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heading into the weekend like...
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Thanks for reading and supporting GNI and our partners — they help make the creation of this free newsletter possible. Just a note: GNI may receive a small commission from items you purchase from this newsletter. ❤️
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