Causes: Arts & Culture, Arts Education, Bands & Ensembles, Music

Mission: Girls Rock! Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to fostering girls’ creative expression, self-esteem and community awareness through music. Through our music education programs for girls ages 8-16, we are committed to educating girls about the musical, technical, and creative aspects involved in musicianship, because we believe that young girls are rarely encouraged to explore self-expressive creative outlets and are less likely to be given access to musical and technical instruction or equipment. We believe that music can be a crucial tool in allowing young women to respond to preconceived notions of what they can do and what they can become.

Target demographics: Girls, as well as transgender & gender nonconforming youth, from the Chicagoland area, age 8-16.

Direct beneficiaries per year: Over 150 girls & trans youth.

Geographic areas served: Chicago

Programs: Rock camp! Our week-long summer camp program is organized around motivating girls ages 8-16 through instrument instruction, music composition coaching, recording workshops, song-writing workshops, hands-on activities, technical equipment workshops, guest speakers, team-building activities and band performances. We seek to provide positive and supportive role models for campers though interaction and participation by volunteers who will share their experiences as women involved in some form of making music.