Girls Rock Columbia empowers youth

Camper participating at Girls Rock Columbia performs at the Music Showcase at The Music Farm.

Girls Rock Columbia, the mentoring program that has been empower ing youth through music education since 2013, will continue its program under Jessica Oliver’s leadership. In the past, the new executive director has been a volunteer and organizer for both Girls Rock Columbia and Charleston.

To take part in the camp, each student pays a tuition of $ 350; although, a majority of campers are granted scholarships by Girls Rock and end up paying less-to-nothing for the experience.

“It’s crucial these youth have a space that bolsters them and makes them feel brave and gives them opportunities to create, collaborate, and lead,” said Mollie Williamson, the former executive director of Girls Rock. Williamson became the executive director of the organization in 2014 and passed the reigns to Oliver this past summer.

This summer, Girls Rock held five workshop tracks for 72 campers ages eight-17. The tracks included Girls Rock 101; What’s That Racket taught audio console mixing and how to arrange music; What’s That Racket Ar ts & Activism included a photo project to send to legislators about issues the campers cared about and the art of protest; Behind the Scene, Arts and Activism, and Movement and the Movement included workshops on body positivity and improvisational comedy.

Mollie Williamson, former executive director of Girls Rock, during the Camper Showcase at the Music Farm.

Oliver believes in teaching campers how to be brave enough to do something they have never done before.

“I want to get feedback and ideas from the board, the organizers, the volunteers, and community members about what they like and what they want to see in the future.

“We want to grow a lot, and it’s going to take a lot of people and a lot of community support to make that happen,” she said.

Before she was chosen to lead Girls Rock, Oliver believed Columbia would be a great city for her family “ because of the growing arts community and all of the supportive and wonderful people in town.”