Our Mission
Since 2013, Girls Rock! Des Moines has been empowering cis-girls & women, non-binary, and trans youth & adults through self-expression, creative agency, and mentoring in music & arts-based education, collaboration, performance, and production.
Our Vision
All cis-girls & women, non-binary, and trans youth & adults have the confidence, knowledge, and skills to express their own identity and be strong, vital participants in a safe, just, and equitable local music ecosystem, and world.
Our Operational Mission
GR!DSM provides an environment that exemplifies social justice, fosters expressions of individual identity, and expands community building, and confidence while developing musical & arts-based knowledge and abilities while connecting with peers and mentors and modeling intersectional feminism.
Our Values
Equity, safety, transparency, accessibility, diversity, inclusion
Our Purpose
We lift up the unique voices of girls and gender-expansive folx through creative expression. We believe each of our rockers should have a chance to celebrate their one-of-a-kind identity, their own inner strength, and creativity and connect to the world around them through music education, innovative programming, and performance. We encourage them to explore their inner rocker, develop creative habits, and discover what inspires them. At GR!DSM, every rocker gets to share their unique voice with the world - because every voice deserves to be heard.
Our Culture
We inspire our rockers to use their unique voices to rise and reach for their endless possibilities in an atmosphere of respect, positive language, and energy. We encourage curious minds to share ideas and embrace diversity, regardless of race, ethnicity, economic status, sexual orientation, gender expression, or birth-assigned sex. We support personal growth, positive body image, and awareness of self and others. We provide leadership opportunities that cultivate passionate, supportive peers and mentors. We advocate for social change through the empowerment of folx who experience gender oppression or marginalization and work to develop life skills through music performance and creative opportunities.
Our Community
We collaborate as parents, teachers, musicians, artists, and volunteers to give rockers the creative freedom to discover strengths, achieve dreams, and realize their own power to change the world. Our community encourages the advocacy of social change and the development of life skills through music performance and education while promoting awareness throughout our community of how girls can and will become the individuals that change the face, hearts, and minds of the world we live in. We build the Girls-Rock-solid foundation that enables us to deliver life-changing creative experiences. Everything we do emanates from our passion for empowering girls and marginalized identities; their voices drive our inspiration.
Our Story
The first Rock ’n’ Roll Camp for Girls was founded in 2001 by a Portland State University student as a summer day camp. In 2003, the organization moved into its own space in Northeast Portland and, in an effort to fulfill the organization's mission further, launched the Girls Rock Institute, an after-school program that provides more opportunities for girls to get involved throughout the year. Currently, there are over 100 camps around the world.
Founded in 2013, GR!DSM modeled its Summer Rock Camp after the original Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls. In our first year of programming, GR!DSM held one session and served 23 campers. In its second year, GR!DSM held two camp sessions, served 35 campers, and provided over $7000 in scholarships. To date, we have empowered hundreds of rockers and provided scholarships in order that no person be turned away.
As the organization continues to grow, community partnerships and ongoing individual supporters have helped enable GR!DSM Year-Round Programming, which strives to meet the need to empower and educate girls and gender-expansive folx across Des Moines and surrounding communities.