2021 IMPACT REPORT
empowering girls, women + gender-expansive youth through music education, the creative arts, community + positive mentorship since 2012
Our vision is to provide a safe, diverse, and inclusive space to youth. We envision an equitable world that celebrates creativity, embraces authenticity, and values all voices.
“girls rock + amplify isn’t just an average rock camp, it isn’t just about the music, but to me... it’s everything.
Taking it back to when I just turned 9, my mom signed me up... I had no clue how to play any instruments, no clue what I was getting into. I chose bass because not a single person in the room wanted to play it and it was the only thing that had my eye. The sound, the feeling, just connected with me! I have gained so much skill, confidence, love, and passion from these programs. Bass is my favorite thing in the whole world, psssh I have 3 of ‘em now! I am me, thanks to Girls Rock... and I wouldn’t want to be anyone else.”
letter from our founder + executive director
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letter from our founder + executive director ⚡
Dear hero,
So much has changed over the last 2 years, but at the same time… even more remains the same. Girls and gender-expansive youth are still chronically underestimated and passed over. They still lean on like-minded peers and mentors to feel validated in schools, jobs, out with friends, even at home. Sexism still thrives. (Hey, did you hear that women represent only 2% of producers, 12% of songwriters, and 13% of GRAMMY nominees?)
But you know what else still thrives? Our capacity to start and end every day LIFTING EACH OTHER UP. Programs like ours uplift our community’s most marginalized youth with a like-minded, compassionate family—one that gives them the strength (and skills) to overcome challenges and pursue their potential throughout their lives. Even in these continuously anxiety-provoking times, we still believe in the power of music and the arts to transform lives, and in 2021 we witnessed this like never before. Nearly 100 staff members, volunteers, interns, and special guest mentors rallied to serve our youth across our programs and events, from AMPLIFY SLEEP AWAY CAMP to our free concert takeover at Zadig&Voltaire’s Sunset Blvd boutique.
Youth are given the freedom and encouragement to LEAD and create art without permission, without perfection, and without peer pressure—and the outcomes speak for themselves.
By the end of 2021, 96% of youth had more respect for peers of other cultures, races, genders, and sexual orientations; 92% thought they developed skills that will help them in a future career; 88% felt more proud of their gender; 88% FELT SAFE to express themselves; 85% felt better about themselves and their futures; and there’s way more where that came from.
Supporters large and small have been pivotal in helping us build this organization that now consistently serves over 500 youth every year, about 1/2 of which experience our programs on scholarship (many of our programs are fully subsidized). Since inception, we’ve served ~11,000 youth and touched hundreds of thousands more via free online livestreams and uplifting content. I know how much YOU’VE INVESTED on their behalf.
Thank you for everything you’ve done to keep Girls Rock SB + Amplify and our vast community of young artists going during these unprecedented times. No matter what the future holds, we know we’ll continue to make our world better with heroes like you believing we can.
Yours in gratitude and strength,
Jen Baron | Founder + Executive Director
good numbers
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good numbers ⚡
230+
girls and gender-expansive youth served (40% via subsidized programs and scholarships, over 50% from historically underrepresented groups, e.g., BIPOC, immigrant, foster, LGBTQ+)
~800
original projects, from songs and DJ beats to music videos, screen prints, zines, articles, photo essays, and more
293,000
social media and newsletter fans engaged per month on average
101
donors engaged via events, social media campaigns, camp showcases, heartfelt appeals, mind-blowing statistics…
45
female-identifying and gender-expansive working artists employed, including musicians, producers, painters, photographers, directors, music/art teachers, poets…
11,000+
participants served since inception, from our early days of Summer Day Camp to today
“it was the best for my daughter…
She says [Amplify Sleep Away Camp] is the best thing she’s ever done! What more can I add?”
programs
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programs ⚡
amplify sleep away camp
Our flagship (and award-winning!) program hosted in Ojai’s Topatopa Mountains, this year running 5 weeks total. Tracks included rock band, photography + film, music production, journalism, and Syryn Leadership Program just for LITs (leaders in training). Daily electives included flower pressing, DJ, screen printing, stage readiness/showcase nerves, sprinkler games, rock + roll is black, music herstory, and many more. Off-campus trips included rock climbing, high ropes course, surfing at Santa Claus Lane Beach, and intersession adventures at Catalina Island. These combined with the final showcase, Friday night dance party, Saturday pool party, and our very low staff-to-camper ratio of 1:6 make Amplify 100% unforgettable and life changing.
amplify creative youth collective (acyc)
High schoolers gather every month to help run our community zine, plan events, advise our board of directors… Members also plan and launch other initiatives like social media campaigns to help make this world a little brighter.
ACYC members make key decisions, from booking summer bands to advising our board, so these teens can get a true feel for where they’re already nailing it—but also where they want more of a challenge and learn more while performing community service.
circles community zine project
Circles are the invaluable distributaries of ACYC. They’re pockets of regional high school- and college-aged youth who meet regularly with like-minded visionaries to discuss current events, changes in their local and global worlds, and the overall experience of being a young feminist today.
Then each month, they work together with other circles around the world to collaboratively create and publish a paper/physical zine to distribute all around their locales. Community service hours offered for all their inspiring efforts.
amplify volunteer exchange
Each summer we welcome program staff, volunteers, and executive directors from different Girls Rock camps around the world to work alongside us and learn about our programming. Volunteer exchange is a paid training period where participants serve as either camp counselors or instructors. Assuming all goes well during one’s “volunteer exchange,” they’re guaranteed a full-time position the following summer @ Amplify Sleep Away Camp. Open to anyone from another Girls Rock program with at least 1 year (1 season) of experience.
amplify artist residency
Fosters creative growth for artists of any medium (music, poetry, embroidery, acrylics, clay…) ready to expand their perspectives through positive mentorship. Free from external pressures, residents spend 4 weeks pursuing interdisciplinary projects among not only other working artists and staff members but also 100+ campers in the prime of developing their voices. Complete with open studio hours, competitive stipend, room + board, and camper electives that emphasize empathy, respecting differences, teamwork, sharing, experimentation, self-acceptance, and building confidence.
survey results
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survey results ⚡
98% of our 2021 program youth agree…
“I feel safe here.”
96% agree…
“I now have more respect for young people of other cultures, races/ethnicities, genders, or sexual orientations.”
95% agree…
“Here I’m respected for who I am.”
92% agree…
“Here I’ve developed skills that can help me in a future career.”
“I’m now better able to express who I am through music, media, and/or the arts.”
91% agree…
“This program has connected me to peers who really care about me.”
“I now do a better job of making sure all people are treated fairly.”
86% agree…
“Here I learned I can do things I didn’t think I could do before.”
82% agree…
“I’m now better at handling whatever comes my way.”
*Way more of these beauties available upon request. Inquire with Jess: jess@girlsrocksb.org.
YOUTH DEMOGRAPHICS
ROCK AROUND THE GLOBE
“my most meaningful takeaway was…
that I can learn anything I want to if I really set my mind to it!”
select partners + donors
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select partners + donors ⚡
ARLEN K BEAN FAMILY ★ BRILL FAMILY GRANT ★ NANCY O’CONNOR
MARLA MCNALLY + LEE PHILLIPS ★ NINA DOWNIE ★ ANN JACKSON FAMILY FOUNDATION ★ CYNTHIA + JAMES LEE ★ KIMBERLY + KYLE BRANUM ★ SAM DAVIS ★ LEANNE SCHLINGER ★ JOHN MCGOVERN ★ HUTTON PARKER FOUNDATION ★ KERRILEE + MARTIN GORE ★ ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ★ PRU + ROB STERNIN ★ ADAM BREZINE ★ THE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SB CHAPTER ★ TWITTER ★ EMMA BRIDGES ★ KRISTI NEWTON ★ DODITTY FOUNDATION ★ JENNIFER FREELAND ★ GEORGE GROVE MORAN ★ SALLY + JAY HANSETH ★ JOSEPH LAMBERT ★ MICHELLE GYSAN ★ CITY OF SB ★ SB EDUCATION FOUNDATION ★ MORGAN STANLEY COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ★ MARK FUNK + JIM OWENS ★ BRAD SINGER ★ ANNE TOWBES ★ CONSTANCE BEATY ★ TU PHAM ★ SHAWN DAILEY ★ SHANNA DOOLITTLE ★ PETER + MADDY JACOBSON ★ PATRICIA SELBERT ★ HEATHER TAYLOR
“my most meaningful takeaway from camp is to be loud!
It doesn’t matter if people hear you right away or not, eventually they will. As women, we are usually told to keep quiet, so we have to be way louder than everyone else to be heard.”
special guests
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special guests ⚡
modest mouse
zella day
bones uk
ramonda hammer
select pr
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select pr ⚡
local nonprofit adjusts programs to empower girls, gender-diverse youth throughout pandemic
“…seeing what GRSB could do for just one camper was reason enough to keep as many programs going as possible. They make a big difference.”
girls rock santa barbara have launched two incredible internships!
“The youth get so much out of being able to bond with like-minded creatives and really make a LOUD difference in these industries they’ll hopefully be leading in the near future.”
7 best sleepaway summer camps for girls 2022
“Girls’ sleepaway camps are the perfect place for girls to experience self-growth and make life long memories.”
girls rock sb joins sonos to help youth in need attend overnight camp
“‘Every child deserves access to quality music education, which provides a crucial creative outlet and has measurable outcomes in school performance,’ said Deji Olukotun, director of policy and corporate social responsibility at Sonos.”
finances
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finances ⚡
$76,400 given in scholarships for summer camp only. This amount does not include programs offered free of charge to all participating youth, which is every program besides summer camp.
join our family
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join our family ⚡
LET’S MAKE SURE ALL GIRLS + GENDER-EXPANSIVE YOUTH KNOW THEY’RE ENOUGH
DONATE
We are still very much in recovery mode from the last few years of pandemic-, wildfire-, and mudslide-related losses, but we’ve continued to dig deep and pivot everything from program models to fundraising methods to keep engaging thousands of youth via equitable programs and events. Help us celebrate serving over 11,000 youth by donating today. Only you—our neighbors, our biggest fans—can make sure we have the support to keep empowering as many girls and gender-expansive youth as possible next year and beyond.
VOLUNTEER
We’re always happy to welcome talented team members from all backgrounds, especially on our committees. Whether you’re a passionate college freshman eager to spread the word around campus or a local musician interested in guest mentoring next summer, there’s a place for everyone at GRSB + Amplify. A love of empowering and encouraging our limitless girls and gender-expansive youth is the only hard requirement. Bonus points if you’re bringing some relevant experience with you (e.g., in music, the arts, fundraising, education).
SHARE + CONNECT
For over 10 years, we’ve been blowing up your social media feeds because we want the world to see what’s possible when we lift each other up and focus on being brave, not perfect. The lifelong relationships, the honest artwork, the fearless performances. If you believe in the work we’re doing, the work that’s allowed us to serve over 11,000 youth and counting, follow us on Instagram (@girlsrocksantabarbara), Facebook (@girlsrocksb), and email newsletter. Bring your friends.
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