Wellness, Community, and the Power of Presence
As a woman of African descent who has lived and worked across different continents, from the United Kingdom to Canada, I know how deeply disorienting transitions can be. Starting over in a new country comes with excitement, but it also carries loneliness, cultural adjustment, and emotional exhaustion. That’s why I founded SistaWalk. I wanted to create a safe, welcoming space where immigrant women could reconnect with themselves, restore their well-being, and find each other through movement and community.
What started as simple weekend walks has grown into something so much more. Along the trails of Edmonton’s River Valley, we walk, talk, breathe, and heal. These walks have become a ritual for self-care, cultural connection, and shared purpose. Over time, I’ve come to understand what sisterhood means and how it can change a life.
1. Learning What Sisterhood Feels Like
I didn’t find sisterhood in a single encounter. I discovered it gradually through repeated moments of connection. I remember one newcomer who, after her first walk, told me she finally felt seen. That moment stayed with me. I realized that sisterhood is not just a feeling; it is an environment. It is created through empathy, presence, and a willingness to walk beside each other, even when the path is unfamiliar.
2. Holding Each Other During Change
I’ve walked through many transitions: new cities, new careers, new seasons of life. At my lowest points, it was women who showed up for me. Sometimes with warm meals, other times with understanding looks or a text at just the right time. That kind of care taught me the power of being there for others. SistaWalk was shaped by those moments. It’s a space where no one has to carry their changes alone, and where support feels natural and without conditions.
3. Growing Through Mentorship and Mutual Support
In this space, I’ve been both a guide and a learner. Women come with questions and often leave with confidence. Others return the next week ready to support someone else. There is no hierarchy. We give what we can, and we receive what we need. That exchange is beautiful. It reminds me that growth is about relationships, not status.
4. Embracing Strength and Softness
There have been days I’ve led walks while carrying emotional weight. On one of those days, a sister walked silently beside me. She didn’t ask questions or offer solutions. She just walked with me. That kind of presence is its own kind of strength. Sisterhood has taught me that I don’t always have to be the strong one. Sometimes being held is the strongest thing I can allow.
5. Witnessing the Ripple Effect
What began with a few women has blossomed into a growing movement. Women now bring their daughters, their mothers, their friends. Some who were quiet at first now lead check-ins and suggest new trails. Watching their transformation reminds me that when a woman feels safe, she begins to bloom. And when one woman blooms, she inspires others to do the same.
6. Leading from a Place of Care
As SistaWalk has grown, so has my understanding of leadership. I no longer see it as directing from the front. I see it as standing beside others and co-creating something meaningful. Leadership here is rooted in listening, sharing responsibility, and staying grounded in our values. For me, those values include empathy, inclusion, and a commitment to collective well-being.
7. Finding Healing in Community
Healing often looks like walking in silence beside someone who understands. Sometimes it’s laughter. Other times, it’s sharing a truth out loud for the first time. I’ve seen women release tension, shed tears, and rediscover their strength in the middle of a trail. I’ve experienced it myself. Healing here is not a performance. It’s a quiet return to wholeness, in the company of others who understand.
8. Walking Across Generations and Cultures
On any given Saturday, you might find women from Kenya, Nigeria, the Caribbean, Asia, and Europe walking together. You’ll also find students, professionals, mothers, and grandmothers. Our stories are different, but our desire to belong, to connect, and to grow is the same. These cross-cultural, intergenerational conversations are part of what makes this space so rich. We bring our roots, and we grow together.
9. Designing for Belonging
For me, inclusion means more than open doors. It means creating an environment where every woman feels welcome in her full humanity. At SistaWalk, we embrace all body types, life stages, and cultural backgrounds. We plan our gatherings with intention, listen to feedback, and remove barriers where we can. True inclusion is not a trend; it’s a daily practice.
10. Walking Toward the Future
I often think about the women who will come after us. My deepest hope is that they inherit a culture of sisterhood that holds them through every chapter. I want my daughters and nieces to feel both bold and safe. To know that they can lead with love, ask for help when needed, and build lives where collective care is normal. I hope they walk with women who remind them of their worth, and who rise with them, step by step.
