In honor of Juneteenth, Black Girl Vitamins is bringing people together through exercise, wellness, and collective care with its Walking into Summer campaign in collaboration with Black women-led walking and running clubs. The movement aims to mobilize nearly 19 million collective steps from thousands of participants across 10 cities, inspired by the legacy of Dr. Opal Lee, whose decades of advocacy and symbolic walks helped pave the way for Juneteenth to become a national holiday.
Lee played a pivotal role in helping Juneteenth become a federally recognized holiday. She campaigned for decades in Fort Worth, Texas, and promoted the idea by leading 2.5-mile walks each year, representing the 2.5 years it took for news of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach Texas.
At the age of 89, she conducted a symbolic walk from Fort Worth, departing in September 2016, to Washington, D.C., arriving in January 2017. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed Senate Bill S. 475, making Juneteenth the 11th federal holiday. In 2024, Biden awarded Lee the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian honor. She is often described as the “grandmother of Juneteenth.”
Walking into Summer kicked off in Greenville, SC, and will continue through June to commemorate freedom and reflect on the power of movement as a tool for healing, empowerment, and self-determination. The series includes Opal’s Walk for Freedom, an annual walk held in Dr. Lee’s honor alongside walks in cities across the country.
• June 1: GVL Black Girl Walking Club, Greenville, S.C.
• June 13: Black Girl Walking Club, Washington, D.C.
• June 13: She’s vested, Los Angeles, Calif.
• June 13: Art Girl Walk Club, Boston, Mass.
• June 14: Black Girl Walking Club, West Orange, N.J.
• June 14: Black Girl Playground, Chicago, Ill.
• June 19: Opal’s Walk for Freedom, Fort Worth, Texas
• June 19: Brwn Grl Wellness Club, Atlanta, Ga.
• June 20: Black Girl Walking Club, Meriden, Conn.
• June 21: Walk it Away + Black Girl Walking Club, New York (Harlem), N.Y.
• June 22: Foundation For Black Women’s Wellness, Madison, Wis.
“Walking into Summer is rooted in the belief that wellness is a form of liberation and community care,” said Jennifer Juma, Chief Strategy Officer at Black Girl Vitamins. “For us, movement is more than exercise; it is care, expression, and liberation, and partnering with clubs that share this mission helps our community take meaningful steps toward better wellness.”
These events are expected to bring together thousands of participants nationwide to celebrate health, joy, and community. This walk highlights the history and freedom of the Black community in America. For more information about Walking into Summer, visit https://blackgirlvitamins.co/pages/summer-walkschedule
