Fixes 4 You

At the age of 14, Milan Waller became a beacon of empowerment in the Southern United States, promoting the importance of joy and mental wellness through the Black Girl Joy Challenge. This initiative, organized by the Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium and the Pete and Thomas Foundation, in partnership with Grammy-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion, aimed to highlight the significance of joy in fostering mental health among young Black girls, gender-expansive youth, and young women aged 12-24 across the region.

Nike also partnered with the initiative to support its transformative goals. The Black Girl Joy Challenge was open to residents across 13 southern states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, East Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia… and Virginia.

The challenge sought to identify applicants with innovative ideas to spread joy and positivity within their communities. Milan Waller, from Georgia, seized this opportunity to make a meaningful impact by hosting a half-day golf summit titled “Winning When You Play Golf: How to Overcome Overthinking Performance Anxiety When Golfing.” Waller’s journey to the Black Girl Joy Challenge was deeply personal.

After navigating the anxiety and uncertainty of nearly losing her mother to COVID-19… she found solace and strength on the golf course. “It taught me that I can’t just shove things down because eventually they’ll build back up. It was kind of a struggle at school because I was kind of snapping at people, I was just upset, and I didn’t know any way to release it,” Waller said.

Motivated to share her story and help others overcome similar challenges, Waller created an event that combined physical wellness with resilience-building techniques. The summit included a stretch clinic, strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome, deep breathing, “meditation,” “and techniques to calm nerves.” Waller shared insights on preparing snacks and supporting wellness while playing golf.

Waller’s story and event aimed to help young women and girls navigate their own challenges and cultivate a sense of joy and mental wellness. This article was first published in the “Atlanta Daily World”.