LaAsia Campbell heads toward the finish line with her daughter, Ayla Gregory, during Saturday’s “I’m Every Woman” 10,000 Steps Community Walk. Participants followed a route from Griffith Park on St. Thomas to Wendy’s and back as part of the event benefiting the Family Resource Center. (Photo by Ananta Pancham)
What began as a small social club encouraging women to get outside and move together has quickly grown into something larger.
Earlier this month, St. Thomas resident LaAsia Campbell officially launched Every Body + Co. Cares, a newly formed nonprofit organization designed to create wellness events, community gatherings, and service initiatives that support women and families across the territory. The milestone marks the latest step in the evolution of Every Body + Co., a grassroots initiative Campbell first started last fall as a way to bring women together in simple, meaningful ways.
That vision came to life Saturday at Griffith Park, where more than 160 women and girls gathered for the “I’m Every Woman” 10,000 Steps Community Walk, a celebration of International Women’s Month organized in collaboration with Rock City Run Club and the Sports, Parks and Recreation Department, with proceeds benefiting the Family Resource Center.
The idea itself came from an unexpected place — a post Campbell stumbled across while scrolling through Instagram.
A young woman in Miami had shared a simple invitation: meet up, walk about 10,000 steps — roughly five miles — and then gather afterward to talk and connect.
“That seemed easy,” Campbell said. “I thought, maybe we can do that here.”
So she tried it.
Campbell began posting invitations for women on St. Thomas to meet up for walks, launching what became the “Girl Get Up, We’re Going for a Walk” series. The group now gathers several evenings each week at different locations across the island, creating a space where women can exercise, socialize, and support one another.
“It really just happened organically,” she said. “Women showed up, they brought their friends, their daughters, sometimes even strollers. It became something people looked forward to.”
As the group grew, Campbell began thinking about how those gatherings could also support the broader community.
That vision came to life this month with the “I’m Every Woman” 10,000 Steps Community Walk, held at Griffith Park in celebration of International Women’s Month. Organized in collaboration with Rock City Run Club and the Sports, Parks and Recreation Department, the event welcomed more than 160 participants who walked, ran, jogged, or strolled together — all while supporting the Family Resource Center, which provides services for survivors of domestic violence and families in crisis.
Campbell said the goal was to create an event where every woman felt welcome.
“Every woman, every pace,” she explained. “You could bring your daughter, your grandmother, your friends. You could walk, jog, or run. The whole idea was that everyone could show up and take it one step at a time.”
Family Resource Center Executive Director Anya Stuart and St. Thomas–St. John Police Chief Deborah Hodge take part in Saturday’s “I’m Every Woman” 10,000 Steps Community Walk at Griffith Park on St. Thomas, joining women across the community in support of health, connection, and women uplifting one another. (Photo by Ananta Pancham)
Participants said the event also created a powerful sense of motivation and connection among the women who showed up.
St. Thomas–St. John Police Chief Deborah Hodge, who joined the walk, said events like these bring women together around both wellness and community.
“I support anything that has to do with women being together and promoting a healthy lifestyle,” Hodge said. “A lot of people need motivation for their health, and when you see other women out here doing it — reaching their goals, staying active — it pushes you to do the same.”
Hodge added that the atmosphere of encouragement is what makes events like the walk impactful.
“When you see people looking healthy, moving together, it inspires you,” she said. “That kind of motivation matters.”
The event also reflects a long-standing tradition in the territory: the Women’s Jogger Jam, an annual March race that has brought women together for decades.
Campbell said she intentionally built on that legacy rather than replacing it.
“I’m not someone who believes in reinventing the wheel,” she said. “The Women’s Jogger Jam already created something meaningful for the community. This was about honoring that tradition and continuing to build on it so the next generation stays involved.”
Longtime Jogger Jam organizer Therese Hodge, who has helped mentor Campbell throughout the process, said seeing younger leaders step forward is essential to keeping those traditions alive.
“It’s exciting to see the next generation taking ownership of these events,” Hodge said. “LaAsia has brought a lot of heart to it, and she’s been very intentional about creating an experience where women feel comfortable, safe, and excited to participate again. That’s how these events continue to grow.”
For the Family Resource Center, the event also served as an opportunity to raise awareness about the services the organization provides to women and families across the territory.
Executive Director Anya Stuart said participating in the walk was an easy decision.
“I participated because it’s for a good cause,” Stuart said. “It benefits both my health and my organization. We have to give back to our community as much as we can, because we know many women — and families — are struggling in the islands.”
Events like the walk, she said, help strengthen those connections.
“It spreads awareness,” Stuart said. “It lets people know we’re here, we care, and we’re here to support them.”
For Campbell, the effort is also personal.
Last December, her daughter participated in her first Women’s Jogger Jam race and won her division — a moment that reinforced Campbell’s belief that the territory needs more opportunities where women and girls can participate together.
Participants in Saturday’s “I’m Every Woman” 10,000 Steps walk followed a route from Griffith Park to Wendy’s and back before gathering for activities afterward. Among other things, women and families of all ages created chalk drawings on the courts and contributed to a community mural organized by Art House VI, with paint donated by Home Depot. (Photo by Ananta Pancham)
“I want my daughter to grow up seeing women supporting each other and taking care of themselves,” Campbell said. “Sometimes women carry so much responsibility. If we’re not taking care of ourselves first, it’s hard to take care of everyone else.”
Through Every Body + Co. Cares, Campbell hopes to expand the initiative even further, organizing additional wellness programs, community walks, and partnerships with local organizations.
The nonprofit officially received its certification earlier this month, opening the door for more events designed to strengthen both physical wellness and community connection.
Campbell said she never expected the idea to grow so quickly.
“It hasn’t even been a year,” she said. “I started this as a social club last September, and now it’s turning into something bigger than I imagined. But when people walk away saying they felt inspired, that they felt supported — that’s when you know it’s worth it.”
Looking back, she still laughs at how simply it all started.
“One woman had a vision and invited people to walk,” Campbell said. “Sometimes that’s all it takes.”
Campbell added that the growing interest in community wellness has also helped strengthen partnerships with other local groups. Every Body + Co.’s “Girl Get Up, We’re Going for a Walk” series continues Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. from the Pier 22 parking lot, while Rock City Run Club meets Mondays and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at Yacht Haven Grande.
Organizers also noted that the UNIFFIED 5K Fun Run is scheduled for March 29, with registration still open for those interested in participating. The race will help raise funds for upcoming UNIFFIED initiatives, including the Gawad Parangal 2026 awards honoring outstanding educators and community members.
