Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Monsivais
Hi Jessica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Over the years, I have worked to become a passionate and conscientious leader in the marketing and community outreach sectors. Eager to express my creativity in all my endeavors and striving to always give back to the community I was born and raised in: Dallas, Texas.
In my personal life earlier this year, I wanted to refocus my fitness journey by turning towards more accessible workouts. Something that has become increasingly difficult to do with mounting prices and a commodified fitness industry that made me shift back to basics. In my search, I found running clubs and immediately loved the concept of bringing people together out in nature. Being more of a walker myself, I wanted to join a space exclusively for women that allowed us to feel that we had safety in numbers as we went out for strolls. After failing to find any local, active walking groups, I decided to fill that gap myself. City Girls Walk Dallas was then formed and had our first walk in May 2024.
I found inspiration from walking groups across the US (our name was influenced by NYC’s City Girls Who Walk) who I have now connected with to share advice and experiences between us all.
We’ve only been active for six months, but we’ve already grown so quickly. It has all been due to word of mouth and the power of social media. My current profession and degree is in marketing, so leveraging the skills and knowledge I have gained over the years has been incredibly helpful.
As a first-generation Latina, my experiences have shaped my perspectives and the way that I approach the world. All thanks to my intersectional identities as first-generation, Latina, and a woman. It is why I choose to weave in advocacy and community outreach into all I do, including City Girls Walk Dallas. After graduating college, I said I wished to “combine my passions of marketing and community engagement” into something more. This has been my something more.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Finding a variety of trails across Dallas and its neighboring suburbs has proven a bit difficult. Particularly trails that are easily accessible, shaded, longer than a mile, and safe for large groups of women. We ran into this issue a couple of months ago as we went to test walk this quarter’s voted-on trail. As we approached the portion that neared the connection to the next trail, it dwindled down to a very thin sidewalk next to a major highway which you then had to cross to continue walking. Something I didn’t feel comfortable doing with a group of 30+ women for safety matters. Luckily we shifted locations to a trail that better fit our needs.
There are trails that fit all our needs, but have parking issues and we do not have the most efficient public transportation to solve for that. Dallas has increasingly become a car-dependent city despite the tremendous progress our Parks & Recreation department has achieved. More and more trails are popping up and being developed, so we hope it is only a matter of time our city’s walkability increases.
As you know, we’re big fans of City Girls Walk Dallas. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Our mission at City Girls Walk Dallas is to create a community for women to connect while exploring different parts of our city. We host two to three events a month, two being a walk and a third being a social that can be anything from an advanced movie screening to a fitness class. We welcome women of all ages and backgrounds as well as anyone who identifies as non-binary and/or genderqueer. Our walks are always free to attend and all you have to do is show up!
I am most proud of how many women return time and time again to our walks. It has been a beautiful thing to see them come alone then come back to new friendship developing between them.
Any big plans?
Growth is my current focus, in terms of awareness, partnerships, and creating a team to sustain that. On top of that, I wish to expand our advocacy and community outreach efforts.
Awareness
– We have grown rather quickly over the last few months, but in a city as large as Dallas there is a bigger reach that we can achieve. I simply want more women of various backgrounds to know that this community exists for them. Doubling our followers next year would be amazing, but a dream would be to be featured by a major television network!
Partnerships
– It has been a wonderful privilege to have been able to foster relationships by partnering with businesses that I have seen grow recently and can only hope to continue uplifting fellow local/small/diverse-owned businesses. On the different end of the spectrum, also on the wish list is partnering with organizations such as Dallas-based women’s sports teams, skincare companies, fitness brands, and more.
Team
– This community is not just about me, so as we grow I want to invite members to be part of leadership. It will after all grant more perspectives, increased events, and a refined shared strategy.
Advocacy
– An important facet of being able to enjoy the public resources that are at our disposal is being there to advocate for them when they are being challenged. This is our city and I want to create a sense of empowerment in the women who attend our walks to not only feel like that is true but to feel as if they can act on that. Ensuring their voice can be heard through active citizenry which includes but is not limited to voting (particularly when it comes to local elections).
Community Outreach
– Giving back to the city that raised me has always been a priority and that is a focus I want to tie into CGWD. I hope to utilize my nonprofit and corporate community outreach background to best work with organizations in Dallas to support their needs, particularly those with a focus on uplifting women and girls such as Rosa es Rojo, Girls Inc., etc.
I want City Girls Walk Dallas to be synonymous with a safe and empowering space for women. I have already gotten to see friendships form from this group and I can only hope to continue to see that.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citygirlswalkdallas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565155922291
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@citygirlswalkdallas?_t=8qg348wNEMs&_r=1
Image Credits
Bridget Sanchez
