Gaby Estrada, Executive Director of Girls Forward Foundation (formerly Fast and Female), shares the organization's journey from its Canmore roots to becoming a nationwide charity empowering girls through sport, physical activity, and education.

Girls Forward Details

• Founded in 2005 in Alberta by Chandra Crawford
• Empowered over 34,000 youth across Canada and internationally
• Recently rebranded from Fast and Female after 20 years
• Creates brave and welcoming spaces for girls to try new sports
• Connects participants with diverse women role models
• Provides evidence-based curriculum focused on transferable skills

Podcast Key Messages

• Built to Run programs in Bow Valley and Calgary prepare girls for the annual Rocky Mountain Soap Company's Girls Run event
• Supporting "Flag Like a Girl" in Edmonton to increase girls' participation in flag football
• Role Model program showcases diverse women from local communities
• Youth Advisory Council provides critical input, including guiding the rebranding process
• Collaborative approach works with local communities to address specific needs

Ways to support Girls Forward Foundation: follow on social media, volunteer at local events, become a monthly or one-time donor, amplify their message, or reach out to explore other partnership opportunities.

About Our Guest

Gaby Estrada is a passionate leader driven by authenticity, collaboration, and inclusion. As a first-generation Canadian with parents from Guatemala, she is dedicated to creating spaces where everyone feels a true sense of belonging.

Since 2018, Gaby has been with Fast and Female, now Girls Forward Foundation, and has held numerous roles, including Event Coordinator, Program Manager, and now Executive Director. She has worked alongside the team to transform the organization into a more inclusive and intersectional charity, overseeing its rebrand and continued growth in empowering girls through sport and education. She holds a Master of Science from the University of Toronto, where her research explored movement-based experiences of racialized women in Scarborough.

What is Give Amplify Connect?

There’s a story behind every action. Give Amplify Connect is a podcast from the Wolfe Pack Warriors Foundation that gives a voice to the Alberta-based charitable organizations creating community impact, changing lives, and making a difference. Driven by honest conversations with host Kristy Wolfe, it’s a chance for passionate changemakers to share their story.

Learn more at wolfepackwarriors.com

Podcast music used with artist permission
"Okay" by Ellen Braun