Our Mission

Established in 2013, Girls Rock! Des Moines empowers girls, women, non-binary, trans youth, and adults through self-expression, artistic agency, creative autonomy, and mentoring in music and arts education, collaboration, performance, and production. 

Our Vision

A thriving local music ecosystem where cisgender girls, women, non-binary, and transgender individuals have the confidence, knowledge, skills, and space to express their identities and be active participants.

Our Operational Mission

GR!DSM provides an environment that embodies social justice, nurtures individual identity, and fosters community building and confidence by developing musical and arts-based knowledge and abilities, connecting with peers and mentors, and modeling intersectional feminism.

Our Values

  • Confidence and Self-Expression: Empower cis-girls, women, non-binary, and trans individuals to confidently express their identities.

  • Knowledge and Skills: Equip youth and adults with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive.

  • Safety and Justice: Ensure a safe, just, and equitable environment for all participants.

  • Active Participation: Foster strong, vital participation in the local music ecosystem.

  • Inclusive Community: Build a community where everyone is valued and supported, emphasizing universal design to accommodate all needs.

Our Purpose

From the Margins to the Main Stage

Although the contributions of cisgender women and gender-expansive individuals have often been sidelined in history, our impact is anything but marginal.

We amplify the unique voices of our community through creative expression. We know that marginalized voices must be celebrated, along with their distinct identities, strengths, and creativity. Through music and arts education, innovative programming, and performance, we support their journey to plug-in to the world around them and take center stage. We encourage every rocker, hip-hop head, headbanger, rail rider, skanker, folk friend, disco diva, and country queen to explore their musicality, develop creative habits, and discover what inspires them. At GR!DSM, everyone gets to share their unique voice with the world because our voices must be heard, and no song should go unsung.

Our Culture

We encourage our community to use their voices, sound their paths, and rise to reach their limitless potential in an atmosphere of respect, affirming language, and camaraderie. We invite curious minds to share ideas and celebrate all expressions of diversity. 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 by empowering those who experience gender oppression or marginalization and work to develop life skills through music performance and creative opportunities.

Our Community

We collaborate as guardians, teachers, musicians, artists, and volunteers to encourage rockers to embrace their creative freedom to discover their strengths, achieve their dreams, and realize their power to change the world. Our community advocates for social change and the development of life skills through music education and performance, promoting awareness of how cisgender girls and gender-expansive individuals are the amplifiers and change-makers of our world. We build a Girls-Rock-solid foundation that enables us to deliver life-changing, even life-saving, creative experiences. Everything we do stems from our passion for empowering marginalized identities; their stories and voices drive our inspiration.

Our Story

The first Rock ’n’ Roll Camp for Girls was founded as a summer day camp in 2001 by a Portland State University student. In 2003, the organization moved into its own space in Northeast Portland and launched the Girls Rock Institute, an after-school program providing year-round opportunities for girls to get involved. Today, there are hundreds of camps around the world.

Founded in 2013 by Rae Fehring, GR!DSM modeled its Summer Rock Camp after the original Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls. In our first year, GR!DSM held one session and served 23 campers. In its second year, we held two camp sessions, served 35 campers, and provided over $7,000 in scholarships.

It takes GR!T… In 2018, we secured an incredible grant from Variety - The Children’s Charity to build our recording studio, GR!T Records. In 2021, we launched GR!T Records Creative Technologies Camp, centered on teaching Audio Engineering, Production, and Recording Artistry. We have produced four “GR!T Featured Artist” EP projects for local, emergent youth artists. These artists include Mia Prosperi of Plumero - a GR!DSM offshoot, Carly Rene, Sarah Tonin, and Munk Rivers.

You can be sure there will be many more Featured Artists to come… Exciting news is rolling out this Winter for our 2025 season… stay tuned.

In January of 2023, we secured a location for our Headquarters and began after-school programming onsite, including lesson studios, rehearsal spaces, community performance bands, and creative entrepreneurialism.

As of our 2024 season, we have served over 1,000 rockers through our Summer camps alone, from Greater Des Moines and beyond, and provided over $120,000 in sliding-scale, needs-based scholarships to ensure every rocker gets to the main stage. In 12 seasons of camps, we have never turned anyone away due to financial constraints.

In 2024, we self-produced our Summer Camp showcases at the Rock the Rink Camps & Community Showcase at Skateland for the first time. Our ultimate success will be when the youth can run the entire show!

The future is turned up to eleven. As the organization grows, community partnerships and ongoing individual support have enabled GR!DSM Year-Round Programming. This initiative strives to empower and educate girls and gender-expansive individuals across Des Moines and surrounding communities on how to Rock, Record, and Run The Show!