Our Mission
She Climbs Mountains is a non-profit organization based in the Twin Cities serving adult women and girls ages 8-18 (Girls Rise Up) who have experienced mother loss through death at any age.
Through monthly support groups, informal gatherings, workshops, and formal events for women, and a mentor program in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities and therapeutic social gatherings and events for girls, the organization is committed to encouraging daughters to explore the myriad of emotions and experiences that accompany the loss of a mother.
Our community encourages women and girls to grieve openly, share their stories, ask questions, nurture themselves and each other, examine the loss of their mothers, and seek joy and gratitude in a secure environment with the goal of creating a safe, supportive, and loving sisterhood.
A Note from Our Founder
My mom was born on July 24, 1945 in Chicago, IL. In all aspects of the word, she was in and of the ‘City’. I am uncertain of all of the stories that shaped who she became, but what I experienced early on as she mothered me was that she loved nature equally to the city. In fact, as we strolled the shores of Lake Michigan in my youth, she always referred to it as ‘My Lake’. The way she claimed this made me believe it to be true. So when we traveled to visit my paternal grandparents in Washington State in the early 1980s, it was no surprise that she was drawn to the tangle of trails that stretched across the Cascade Mountains. She fell in love with Mt. Saint Helens, Mt. Hood, and especially Mt. Rainier. I recall returning home from our trip and her exclaiming that she planned to climb Mt. Rainier one day; I had no doubt.
Unfortunately, her goal never became a reality after she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in 1987 and ultimately died from a metastasis to her brain, and then entire body, on April 14, 1990. She might not have climbed the particular mountain she dreamed of, but I witnessed her climb to an even higher elevation as she stared death in the face at the age of 41 and persevered in life for 3 ½ years after her initial diagnosis when she was given just 3 months to live.
She Climbs Mountains is dedicated to my beautiful and valiant mom, to the generations of women who have come before us, and to the amazing community of motherless daughters who I have the privilege of climbing mountains with every day as we strive for healing, peace, joy, and gratitude.
Christine's mom, Loralee, on Silver Star Mountain, 1981
Our Team | Staff + Board of Directors
CHRISTINE MEYER / Founder
SHADIA TOBKIN / Girls Rise Up Program Director
COURTNEY CARTER / President
NATALIE NELSON / Vice President
CAITLIN MENSING / Secretary
JASON VAUGHAN / Treasurer
CHRIS FISCHER / Board Member At-Large
She Climbs Mountains/Girls Rise Up believes that the loss of a mother through estrangement, abandonment, or separation is devastating and causes a unique grief for a daughter living without her mother. However, at this time, our organization only provides programs for women and girls who have experienced mother loss through death.
She Climbs Mountains/Girls Rise Up is an inclusive organization and welcomes all humans who identify as daughters. Additionally, though we use the pronouns she/her/hers, we welcome individuals who use pronouns such as they/them/theirs and/or other gender-neutral pronouns.