Vanessa Renae
Health activist
As COO of GirlTrek, Vanessa Renae mobilizes African-American women and girls to reclaim their health and communities through walking.
Why you should listen
Vanessa Renae is the cofounder and COO of GirlTrek, the largest public health nonprofit for African-American women and girls in the United States. With more than 100,000 neighborhood walkers, GirlTrek encourages women to use walking as a practical first step to inspire healthy living, families and communities.Prior to cofounding GirlTrek, Renae worked within the criminal justice space, helping formerly incarcerated women access critical services. She began her career working in digital media with Turner Broadcasting System in Atlanta, where she managed digital media projects for some the world's most recognizable news and entertainment brands, including, CNN, TNT and Sports Illustrated.
With GirlTrek, Renae has been a featured in the Washington Post and the New York Times, and she was named a "Health Hero" by Essence Magazine. She has received social innovations fellowships from Teach For America, Echoing Green and the Aspen Institute.
