Mission

Girls Rock! Seattle is a non-profit organization (fiscally sponsored by Reel Grrls) dedicated to building positive self-esteem in girls and encouraging creative expression through music. Our music education programs provide girls with an opportunity to participate in an environment that fosters leadership, encourages social change, and cultivates a supportive community of female peers and mentors.

Programs

Girls Rock! Seattle Summer Camp

Ladies Rock Camp

Background

Nine years ago, Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls was founded in Portland and has since become an overwhelming success, serving 300+ girls a year.  As a result, similar programs have emerged across the country and overseas as part of the Girls Rock Camp Alliance (GRCA), a program of the Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls, created to provide accreditation, resources and networking opportunities for it's members.  In 2009, Girls Rock! Seattle will be added to this growing coalition of like-minded organizations with hopes of embodying the core values of the GRCA:

.    We value the power of music as a means to create personal and social change
.    We value efforts that actively expand opportunities for girls and women
.    We value positive approaches to fighting sexism
.    We value integrity, honesty and respect
.    We value appropriate sharing or resources, cooperation and collaboration
.    We value using our collective voice to further the mission
.    We value diversity

The need for a program in our own city is evident.  Each year, the Portland Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls draws a growing number of campers from the Seattle area as well as volunteers and guest musicians. In 2008, a fourth session was added to Portland's summer camp program and numerous campers still had to be wait listed.

As a result, in 2009, the idea of Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls in Seattle finally became a reality in the form of Girls Rock! Seattle.  In a city that has historically embraced music as a form of self-expression and creativity, the excitement and enthusiasm for a program such as this is overwhelming.  Girls Rock! Seattle not only expands Portland's message of empowerment and self-esteem through music, but also provides inspiration, encouragement and unity for women musicians in our community.

In its first year, Girls Rock! Seattle is run entirely by a team of dedicated volunteers with support from independent contractors assisting in areas of bookkeeping, PR and legal matters.  As funding allows, we will operate with a full-time staff and offer year-round programs and workshops, multiple summer camp sessions and a Ladies Rock Camp for women.