Guitar melodies blended with fun and laughter yesterday as local musicians and community members gathered to support the free expression and positive development of youth. Girls Rock Camp Atlanta hosted the “Women Rock- A Benefit for Girls Rock Camp Atlanta” benefit concert at Five Spot Restaurant and Bar in Little Five Points. The concert featured performances by bluegrass band Roxie Watson and upcoming artist Hannah Thomas.
Girls Rock Camp Atlanta co-founder and executive director Stacy Singer said all funds will go toward sustaining current Girls Rock programs and implementing more programming for underserved girls.
“We are trying to increase our funding to increase our service. We are such a small, independent organization,” Singer said. “We don’t have our own facility. We want to raise money to have our own space to implement an after-school program.”
Girls Rock Camp Atlanta is an annual summer camp for girls ages 10-16 that promotes positive self-esteem and encourages freedom of expression through musical mediums.
The camp hosts workshops on body image, identity and self defense. In addition, participants are instructed in guitar, keyboard, drums and vocals. The last day of camp, participants host a musical showcase for the public.
“We are looking to partner with other organizations to bring the Girls Rock experience to girls who cannot get to the camp,” Singer said. “We are partnering with the International Rescue Committee this summer to provide some of their girls the Girls Rock experience at no cost.”
Girls Rock Camp Atlanta has also collaborated with Girls, Inc. and Cool Girls, Inc.
Singer said it is important that Girls Rock Camp Atlanta reach out to other organizations to provide more girls the Girls Rock experience at little to no cost.
Girls Rock Camp Atlanta receives the majority of its funding from the tuition payments received from its participants.
“With tuition being our biggest income source, it prioritizes girls whose family can afford to send them to rock camp,” Singer said. “That has to change. One third of our income should come from grants, one third from personal donations and one third from tuition. Our goal is to serve everybody, not just the girls who can afford to come to the camp.”
Girls Rock Camp Atlanta received non-profit status in September 2010.
“The language the IRS uses is challenging for people without a legal background. We could not hire a non-profit lawyer. We had to use the lawyer on our board of directors,” Singer said. “It took months to put paperwork together. But we did it. We persevered.”
Girls Rock Camp Atlanta was organized in 2007.
“I felt called to do the work. I worked in the Atlanta music industry for a while and wasn’t challenged by the work anymore,” Singer said. “I volunteered at rock camp in Tennessee and realized we needed a program in our own town.”
The first Girls Rock Camp Atlanta was held in 2008.
“It just keeps getting better and better every year. The first summer we had 24 campers. This year we will have a little more than twice as many,” Singer said.
Girls Rock Camp Atlanta usually requests volunteers and performers. However, the Jazz Foundation of America volunteered Beverly “Guitar” Watkins to perform at the camp this summer.
“This is an amazing opportunity for us to have this person who is so unique and special to come and play for us,” Singer said. “We see the work we are doing being recognized by other people. It is such an honor.”
Singer believes Girls Rock Camp Atlanta has made significant progress since its founding.
Singer said, “Thus far, we’ve achieved everything at a pace that is right for us. We will hopefully continue to achieve our goals at a pace that is right for us.”
Jordan, I feel like the first sentence should have been the third sentence. It sets the atmosphere, but it does not provide the most important information about the article. Also it makes the first graph longer than it should be. Also you could have interviewed more people, possibly a participant from the program. I believe this would have offered your article fluidity and liveliness because it seems like this was a fun event, but your article does not convey that.
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