Kelly Salter

Tuesdays aren’t generally a standout day of the week, but Kelly Salter, the athletic director at Groves High School, has changed that. Salter began Cookie Tuesdays for the school back in 2015, and brings in 100 of her gourmet cookies each week for students to enjoy.

“Food brings out natural conversation,” Salter said. “While they are in the athletic office enjoying a cookie I’ll find myself talking with a student I’ve never known before and discussing what might be bothering them, how their day has been, or just sharing something that interests them.”

It’s this cookie connection that makes the licensed healthcare professional and sports rehabilitation specialist a safe space for so many students and athletes at Groves. Coupled with the sweet treats, her own willingness and transparency about her own mental health challenges and battle with bulimia as a teenager, opens the door for anyone going through their own struggles.

The school athletic trainer took her interest in students' wellbeing a step further, and recently founded “EmpowerHer – Girls, Sports, and Bright Futures,” an event-based program designed to “encourage both middle and high school girls for sports and a healthy lifestyle,” said Salter.”The events feature informative panels, breakout sessions and guest speakers and our last event in February hosted 120 girls, a number we hope to see increasing each year.”

Supported by Birmingham Public Schools and the Birmingham Education Foundation, as well as local vendors and sponsors, EmpowerHer events focus on significant topics for girls ages 11 to 18 years old.

“We want to celebrate the pioneers in women’s equality and recognize how much they did for females to be able to participate in sports today; provide tools for time and self-management and resilience; and to introduce the girls to amazing women mentors, like award-winning, multi-platform sports journalist Joanne Gerstner, and paralympic champion Cheryl Angelelli,” said Salter, a Sterling Heights native.

Other recent keynote speakers encourage the girls to overcome stress and anxiety through mindfulness techniques; how to craft a compelling “elevator pitch” that will leave a lasting impression; how to nutritionally fuel your body; goal setting tools; gratitude exercises, and more.

“This event aims to equip these girls to care for their bodies – physically, mentally, and emotionally – and help them build lifelong confidence that transcends any sport they may participate in,” said Salter. Studies, she said, show that athletics of any kind help a girl navigate all of the challenges, including social media, that are part of their world today.

“Whether it’s swimming, soccer, gymnastics, basketball – any sport helps a girl fall in love with physical activity and with that comes so many positive advantages,” Salter said. She encourages parents to help young girls in middle school try as many sports as they are interested in, and they can find one or two that they can focus on as they enter high school.

With her personal eating disorder long behind her, the healthy athletic coach feels compelled to help to girls develop a body positivity system “that revolves around looking at your body to be strong and full of energy, that allows you to have a full and impactful life, rather than worrying about your weight or having a thigh gap.”

The avid marathon runner feels privileged to have a positive voice in these girls’ lives and feels the connections formed to help them reach their full potential.

“It doesn’t happen by magic and there is nothing more that I love than helping these young girls develop into great athletes – something that will benefit them in so many ways for the rest of their lives.”

Story: Susan Peck

Photo: Laurie Tennent