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B M & T ••• May/June 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 14 K arlyn LeBlanc is a licensed Master Social Worker who has over 20 years of clinical therapy experience. She is a moti- vational speaker and a published author of several books. LeBlanc is also the founder of Black Girls Travel Therapy (BGTT), a woman empowerment travel organization. The organization was birthed with the purposeful idea to empower women to become comfortable in their skin and love themselves inside and out. "Women are so busy taking care of everybody else that they don't make time for themselves," shares LeBlanc. "If we don't take care of our- selves, how can we possibly take care of anyone else. Self-love is the key," which has been a LeBlanc mantra over the years. She started her business after a long battle with depression, initiated when a close family member was brutally murder at the age of 21 years old. Although originally a setback to her family's life, of sorts; out of that battle was born the idea to enhance the lives of women to escape from everyday life, where they can come together and enjoy dinner, cocktails and sisterhood. LeBlanc excitedly states that she believes in being free and doing whatever makes her happy and that others should begin to make them- selves happy as well. "Traveling was then and is now my saving grace. It is completely a part of my therapy to emotional liberation. So much so that I've now decided to build therapeutic experiences into every aspect of Black Girls Travel Therapy." And she has all the experiences and pictures to prove she is living and helping women to do the same. LeBlanc and Black Girl Travel Therapy members visited Jamaica in November, February, and April on a mission vacation. The ladies, under LeBlanc's leadership and connec- tions have adopted schools in Westmoreland and Clarendon Parish, Jamaica. The group, this past February and April 2019, collected hygiene items, first aid kits, condoms, clothes, books, bags, soccer balls, and school supplies which were donated to the community and school. In addition, the ladies of BGTT along with LeBlanc donated hours to vol- unteering at the school and medical clinic a couple of days out of each trip. There are immediate plans to return this year and every year LeBlanc added. "We have sister circle sessions and real-life changing events. I create a fun, therapeutic experience that you won't find anywhere else. In addi- tion to mission work, the women on my trips are pampered, loved, adored, and allowed to express themselves in an uninhibited environ- ment. Women come with emotional baggage like depression, bi-polar, anger, anxiety, stress, and low self-esteem; however, they leave renewed, rejuvenated, empowered, and healed", LeBlanc further elaborates. Her goal, she tells me, is to teach women how to love themselves, fight for their true happiness and learn to keep it happy! Black Girls Travel Therapy is a true circle of supportive sisterhood with a twist of unadulterated fun and philanthropic activities. For more information check out their website www.blackgirlstrav- eltherapy.com or email (www.blackgirlstraveltherapy@gmail.com. BLACK GIRLS TRAVEL THERAPY