2024 Highlights

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We thank everyone who has supported us, trusted us, donated to us, and served alongside us as a volunteer or advisor this year. Humble Warrior is honored to be a trusted and valued holistic wellness resource, serving the often-overlooked populations of women veterans and women first responders. Through our mission, we empower these women by providing free, accessible wellness programs and resources that promoted connection and enhanced the overall well-being.

Our organization continues to be driven by two fundamental pillars, connection and wellness. Through retreats, workshops, and classes this year, we fostered an environment where women who serve and have served could reconnect with themselves and each other, forming a strong community of support. Our vision to increase their sense of belonging, encourage lifelong learning, and offer holistic well-being support was lived out in our 2024 remarkable milestones and contributions. 

This year we:

• Celebrated six years of serving women veterans and first responders
• Supported the Project Overwatch Retreat, enhancing well-being for over 100 women first responders through mindfulness, yoga, and whole-food programs
• Hosted the Radiant Warrior Wellness Retreat and photography session supporting a special edition of the She Served Magazine featuring 20 Women Veterans from Georgia
• Hosted a Good Vibrations Wellness Retreat exploring the benefits of sound frequency and gentle movement, vibrant whole foods and plant-based eating, and mindful art supporting 7 women veterans in Wisconsin
• Hosted a "Read the World" community book fair at the Athens VFW to encourage reading about locations and cultures around the world and support the prevention of the summer reading backslide in children, distributing 1,000+ books
• Hosted 3 Lunch and Learn events exploring holistic practices for the Georgia Military Women's group across the state of Georgia. GMW is composed of 5,000 women veterans
• Supported monthly meetups and hosted monthly virtual events, such as interactive yoga classes and book club discussions fostering connection for 200+ women
• Served 250+ veterans, first responders, and front-line workers through in-person and virtual programs including trauma-sensitive yoga, and Veteran Administration and community wellness fairs
• Hosted a Gratitude Hike at Sweetwater Creek State Park for 50 women who serve with the support of Sierra Club Military Outdoors to provide support for state-level legislation supporting free state park passes for all veterans to cultivate healthy habits and connect to the outdoors
• Were nominated for Athens Area Community Foundation's 2024 Nonprofit of the Year Award

Our work is driven by passion and dedication, evidenced by our all-volunteer board. We have consistently sought opportunities for growth, including participation in the Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) program and the Military Influencers Conference, where we learned best practices to enhance our nonprofit's impact and network.

Humble Warrior's contribution has been significant, improving the lives of women who serve and have served, creating lasting community connections, and offering tangible wellness tools. We are honored and humbled to serve!

Wishing you great well-being in 2025!

The HW Team: Raquel, Mary Beth, Katie, Stacy, and Gabi

What an enriching year 2022 has been! Humble Warrior was honored to provide the following support and services:

1. Published 12 wellness-centric newsletters and 12 blogs supporting over 545 subscribers.

2. Served as guest speaker and provided on-site yoga classes for the Georgia Women in Public safety Conference supporting 177 participants.

3. Served as guest speaker for a Veteran's Day gathering at Switzer Library in Marietta, GA.

4. Hosted the first ever "Women in the Water!" at the Georgia Aquarium where 5 groups of women veterans and first responders snorkeled and SCUBA dove. This event celebrating Women's History Month was a wonderful partnership with LifeWaters nonprofit and GA Military Women. 

5. Conducted a "Be Sweet to Your Feet" Kit & Class for 25 participants.

6. Hosted 3 newcomer Wellness Retreats supporting 30 participants.

7. Hosted 2 alumni Wellness Retreats supporting 20 participants.

8. Provided a 6-week online iREST (yoga for sleep) course for the community providing classes for 15 participants from 4 different states.

9. Facilitated 2 online "Train Your Brain" workshops supporting 26 participants.

10. Instructed Breathing Practices & Yoga to Oconee County Fire Station members and a follow up on Veteran's Day workshop at the Oconee Public Library. 

11. Provided scholarship, resources, and private trauma-sensitive yoga classes for a first responder. 

12. Represented a resource table at Dobbins Air Base's Prevention of Sexual Assault & Harassment and again for their Fall Festival resulting in over 60 conversations and interactions.

13. Received the Disabled Veterans National Foundation capacity-building grant for the second year in a row.

14. Supported numerous events to share mindfulness, trauma-sensitive yoga, guided journaling, and plant-based eating.

Hosted five 3-day retreats serving 37 veterans and first responders. We thank our VRBO owners in Big Canoe, Jasper, Georgia; Lake Oconee, Greensboro, Georgia; Two Rivers, Wisconsin; Red, White and Bear Cabin, Hiawassee, Georgia; and Lake Lanier, Dawsonville, Georgia.

Provided each participant with the resources and encouragement to incorporate the skills learned during the retreats into their home lifestyle and self-care routines.  We created a Humble Warrior Retreat Graduates Private Facebook page to encourage continued connections and support as well as a forum to ask questions and post additional information, resources, and tips to maintain their new lifestyle skills.

Hosted two journaling workshops. The first for veterans and their families at Camp Twin Lakes, Winder, Georgia and a second event at the VA Women Veterans Symposium combining the modalities of journaling and meditation in Attitude of Graditude. 

Taught 60 donation based yoga classes in support of Humble Warrior; 2 Veterans Day Free yoga classes in support of Warriors at Ease Poses & Pledges.

Guest Speaker and hosted a vendor tables at the Vetlanta Q3 Summit focused on Women Veterans Living an Authentic Life; VA Women Veterans 2019 Fall Health Symposium in Riverdale, GA. Raquel (Co-founder and Director) was a guest speaker at the Vetlanta Q3 and provided the closing remarks at the VA Health Symposium.

Carmen (Co-founder and Director) served as the guest speaker for the GA National Guard’s Hispanic Heritage Month Program.

Supported the community through participating in 5K walk/run supporting a retreat graduate's charity run in memory of her son and raising awareness of Congenital Heart Disease and a 10K walk/run for cancer.  Published 12 wellness blogs on our website.  Sponsorsored two deployed women with Christmans and Holiday care packages.  Sponsored one woman veteran to attend Equine Assisted Therapy at the Peach Pit.  Donated to United Military Care in honor of Dr. Amy Stephens, who has been our "behind the scenes" Humble Warrior.

Continued to gain new credentials with Raquel completing Holistic Nutritionist Certification, 500hr yoga teacher training, and Warriors at Ease Level 1 (trauma sensitive yoga) certification. Raquel and Diane also completed the Warriors at Ease Retreat Train the Trainer program.

Through the year, we have also gained partners. We are proud to partner with Red, White, and Bear Cabin - Operation Appreciation and Tru-Spec.