Mission

Girls+ Rock! Pittsburgh is an empowerment program for female youths of all definitions, abilities, and backgrounds. Girls+ Rock! Pittsburgh utilizes the process of making music to instill tools for amplifying self-confidence, creative expression, independent thinking, mutual respect, and cooperation while cultivating a supportive and inclusive community of peers and mentors.

 Girls+ Rock! Pittsburgh is committed to community awareness, social agency, and fostering a network of role models for the endeavors of girls and women that promote social change among its diverse participants.

We believe:

  • Girls+ can play any kind of music they want.

  • Creative voices of girls and women need to be amplified to create social change.

  • Girls+ need positive role models and support for their creative endeavors. We can build a community where girls support each other rather than tear each other down.

  • We can empower girls to recognize, understand, and respond to discrimination.

History

Girls+ Rock! Pittsburgh has been hosting summer camps since 2013 and have been a full member of the Girls Rock Camp Alliance since 2014. The GRCA is made up of over 60 camps worldwide, each with their own unique identity and method of operation.

The first camp, Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls, took place in Portland, Oregon in 2001 as part of a Portland State University student’s masters thesis project. In the following years, rock camps began popping up in various parts of the United States and Europe and the Girls Rock Camp Alliance was established in 2007 to connect and support affiliated rock camps worldwide.

The Girls Rock Camp Alliance (GRCA) is an international 501(c)3 coalition of organizations whose shared mission is to empower girls and women using the tools of music education to foster self-esteem and confidence. To this end, the GRCA promotes, strengthens, and expands services provided by its affiliated camps. GRCA provides resources and networking opportunities for its member camps, and promotes the establishment of like-minded institutions worldwide.

Pittsburgh volunteers at the 2019 GRCA Conference in Philadelphia.

Why the + ?

We have always welcomed girls (by any definition), and non-binary and gender expansive folks to attend our programming and be a part of our organizing. The language and vocabulary around gender has greatly expanded since our beginning in 2013. We want the name of our organization to better reflect our campers, volunteers, and other members in our community. In 2024, we are adding the + to our name to evoke the LGBTQ+ community and recognize the many different ways it means to be a “girl”. The + may be just a pit stop on the way to a more accurate representation of who we are. We will always continue to grow and change to best reflect our community.

2025 Board of Directors

ERIKA HEDIN
Operations Director
operations@girlsrockpittsburgh.org

PAM PILIPOVICH
Programming Director
programming@girlsrockpittsburgh.org

MEG PRALL
General Director
meg@girlsrockpittsburgh.org

ALEX VOGELSONG
Events Director
alex@girlsrockpittsburgh.org

LAURA RUSSAK
Gear Director
gear@girlsrockpittsburgh.org

JULES MATTERN
Communications Co-Director

TESS WILSON
Volunteer Co-Director
volunteer@girlsrockpittsburgh.org

ANNIE DEFAZIO
Volunteer Co-Director
volunteer@girlsrockpittsburgh.org