By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | November 8, 2026
While her daughter Kristina participated in conversations about women’s health, Kathy Oubre was enjoying something many busy mothers rarely get enough of — a little time for herself.
A massage, personal attention, and an opportunity to relax were among the experiences offered to mothers attending the Atlanta Dream’s third annual Unstoppable HER Wellness Clinic on Saturday at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.
For Oubre, who returned with her daughter after attending last year’s event, the experience represented something more meaningful than an afternoon of pampering.
“I’m always running around taking her to everything,” Oubre explained, describing her commitment to finding activities that encourage her daughter’s personal development.
She appreciates programs that expose Kristina to leadership, education, and opportunities for growth. But the Dream’s approach offered something she had not always experienced at other youth activities: while her daughter was learning, the mothers were being cared for, too.
That combination of education, encouragement, and self-care captured the spirit of an event designed to help young women better understand their bodies and become more confident advocates for their own health.
Creating a Space for Conversations That Matter
Presented in partnership with Emory Healthcare and The Honey Pot Company, the November 7 clinic welcomed young women ages 14 to 24 and their mothers for a day of health education, interactive experiences, and wellness activities.
The program addressed subjects including menstrual health, nutrition, physical well-being, and the importance of recognizing changes in one’s body.
Participants received gift bags and other take-home items, but the most valuable offerings were less tangible: information, encouragement, and opportunities to ask questions in a supportive environment.
Kristina described attending a session where participants learned about menstrual health and could ask questions.
Some of the information reinforced conversations she had already shared with her mother. Other topics introduced subjects they had not previously discussed, demonstrating how community health education can complement lessons learned at home.
Another returning mother, who attended with her daughters Kennedy, 15, and Gabrielle, 19, expressed a similar appreciation for the program.
Her daughters discussed lessons about healthy eating, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and understanding the importance of caring for their bodies.
The mother said the message she most wanted her daughters to remember was simple: listen to their bodies and pay attention to what their bodies are telling them.
For these families, the clinic offered more than information. It created opportunities for mothers and daughters to continue important conversations long after leaving the event.
A Program That Continues to Grow
According to Aisha Greenlee, the Atlanta Dream’s Director of Community Impact, the wellness clinic has grown considerably since its introduction three years ago.
Greenlee estimated that approximately 50 girls participated in the inaugural event. Attendance grew to around 100 girls in 2025, while more than 450 people registered for Saturday’s clinic.
The registration figures reflect growing interest in a program that Greenlee says is intentionally designed to reach young women beyond the basketball court.
The initiative falls under one of the Dream’s three community engagement pillars: achieving equity for all, growing the game of basketball, and empowering girls and women.
While the organization also offers basketball clinics for younger girls, Unstoppable HER focuses on teenagers and young adults between the ages of 14 and 24.
“We wanted the community that we cultivate to know that our offerings in the community are not just centered around sports and basketball,” Greenlee said.
The program, she explained, is designed to address women’s overall well-being, including physical and mental health, while providing a welcoming setting for discussions that are not always held openly.
“It’s a wellness clinic, but it’s also an open forum to ask the questions that a lot of women have,” she said.
For Greenlee, the return of families from previous years provides another important measure of the initiative’s success.
A mother who finds enough value in the experience to bring her daughters back for a second year demonstrates an impact that registration numbers alone cannot fully capture.
Connecting Women’s Health and Athletic Performance
The partnership with Emory Healthcare also connects the wellness clinic to the medical support available to professional athletes.
Dr. Jade Stafford, an Emory Healthcare obstetrician-gynecologist who has been with Emory for approximately a decade and has served as the Atlanta Dream’s lead OB/GYN team physician since April 2025, explained that menstrual health can influence physical comfort and performance.
Menstrual symptoms and related health concerns can affect an athlete’s ability to train and compete comfortably. Appropriate medical evaluation and treatment can help women manage those concerns.
Stafford said access to organized healthcare helps athletes address medical issues that might otherwise receive less attention amid demanding schedules.
She also emphasized the importance of recognizing the relationship between reproductive health and overall physical well-being.
“The body works very well together,” Stafford said.
While the discussion focused partly on professional athletes, the underlying message applies to young women regardless of whether they participate in organized sports.
Understanding one’s body, recognizing unusual symptoms, and seeking appropriate medical guidance are important components of long-term health.
“The partnership between Emory Healthcare and the Atlanta Dream is unique and special because it bridges two areas of women’s health that intertwine very well and will help athletes and the community at large,” Stafford said.
Mothers Need Care, Too
One distinctive feature of Saturday’s clinic was the attention given to mothers.
While their daughters attended educational sessions and activities, mothers had opportunities to enjoy massages and other wellness experiences.
Greenlee said that arrangement was deliberate.
“We wanted the moms to not only show up, but we want them to feel seen and feel appreciated,” she explained.
She added that empowerment can mean different things at different stages of life.
For a young woman, it may involve developing confidence, learning to advocate for herself, or gaining a better understanding of her body.
For a mother balancing work, family, and other responsibilities, empowerment may sometimes mean recognizing that it is acceptable to rest.
“Sometimes you need to be empowered to know that it’s okay to relax,” Greenlee said.
Oubre’s appreciation for the experience illustrated precisely what the organizers hoped to accomplish.
A Commitment That Extends Beyond the Season
The wellness clinic took place just one week after the Atlanta Dream concluded its basketball season, but Greenlee emphasized that the organization’s community responsibilities continue throughout the year.
“Once the basketball season ends, our commitment to Atlanta doesn’t,” she said.
The Dream plans to continue its community programming during the offseason, maintaining relationships with families and organizations beyond the arena.
That commitment was evident in the experiences of mothers and daughters who returned for another year of learning, encouragement, and shared experiences.
The gift bags will eventually be emptied, and the massages will become pleasant memories. But the conversations about health, self-care, and personal responsibility may continue for years.
For Kristina, Kennedy, Gabrielle, and the other young women who participated, the most enduring lesson may be that understanding their bodies is an important step toward advocating for their health.
And for the Atlanta Dream, Saturday’s clinic demonstrated that its influence can extend well beyond the final buzzer.
The game may end, but the work of empowering women continues.
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