Take it up a notch with Girls Rock Charlotte

Girls Rock Charlotte, a nonprofit organization that uses music to amplify the voices of young women, has a different tune this year.

Not only are girls learning how to shred a bass guitar, but they’re devouring even more empowering messages than in this nonprofit’s previous one-week summer camps.

Founder and Executive Director Kelly Finley, a women’s and gender studies professor at UNC-Charlotte, has always run her nonprofit, 100 percent volunteer-run organization from a perspective of female empowerment and social justice. It’s in this third year, though, that she’s able to pump up the volume on those topics.

“We are really perfecting the models and taking it up another notch to feature the social justice parts and bringing in even more volunteers and support from the community,” Finley said. “At the camp level, we have realized our dream, and we’re all grown.”

Program director Shannon Bauerle, also a women’s and gender studies professor at UNC-Charlotte, tears up when she talks about the impact of making space for young girls and how this affects them after camp ends.

“There’s a place where they can truly be themselves because far too often, beyond this space, they don’t have a place to go,” Bauerle said. “I want them to feel safe and feel free and be exactly who they want to be and not be afraid or scared of who they are.”

Want to support this nonprofit as soon as tomorrow and even during the year? Here’s how:

Attend the Girls Rock Charlotte Summer Camp Concert on July23

At $5 a ticket, you can afford a fancy cocktail beforehand at The Punch Room. Nothing can beat a night out at Spirit Square watching young girls wreck a drum set. One of the bands is named Sweet and Sour and if my exclusive preview of the song is any indication, it will get stuck in your head in the good way, like a warm sweet and sour gummy worm. Buy your tickets here.

Volunteer at the Amplify workshops during the year

I’ve volunteered at several Amplify workshops, and I’ll tell you making a rock and roll ‘zine with 20 girls will lift your spirits at the end of a work week. Plus, it keeps you startlingly young and nostalgic for your own misspent youth: Did you know the kids are discovering Panic! At the Disco for the first time? Fill out the volunteer application here.

Make friends with other volunteers

Yes, it’s about the children, and it’s also a great way to have new faces in your life while doing something for your community. Learn more about the different roles you can play here.

We have way too much fun as @girlrockclt volunteers. It's our adult summer camp too!!!

A post shared by Girls Rock Charlotte (@girlsrockclt) on Jul 20, 2016 at 4:47pm PDT

Are you a teen? Learn how to be a mentor.

The teen mentorship program is open to high schoolers ages 17-18 who are interested in volunteering for Girls Rock events. Learn more here.

So get ready to rock and roll and whatever else the kids do these days this Saturday night!

Photos: Kelly Finley

This story was originally published July 21, 2016 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Take it up a notch with Girls Rock Charlotte."