Welcome to Scranton Girls Rock

If you’re new here — hi. We’re Scranton Girls Rock, and we believe a city gets stronger every time a young person finds their voice.

Our one-sentence why

We create girls- and gender-diverse–centered spaces where music, art, and mentorship help youth build confidence, community, and leadership — and then we share that joy with the whole city.

What it looks like in real life

Picture a summer week that feels like lightning in a bottle:

Day 1: strangers become bandmates.
By midweek: original lyrics, first chords, a logo sketched on notebook paper and pulled on a screen printer, band merch created
Day 5: the lights at The Ritz Theater rise, bands perform their own songs, and a city remembers how good it feels to believe in its kids.

Along the way, campers learn more than music. They practice healthy communication, set boundaries with kindness, collaborate, recover from mistakes, and cheer each other on. Some come for guitar and leave loving graphic design. Some arrive shy and leave asking for the mic. Everyone leaves taller.

Who we are (the people)

We’re an eclectic, joyful coalition of musicians, artists, educators, counselors, parents, and local businesses who do things the Scranton way — organized, welcoming, and all-in. Men and allies are part of our ecosystem and support the mission; our rooms center girls and gender-diverse youth because confidence grows best in spaces that feel fully theirs.

What we value

Balance over blame. We’re here to help rebalance opportunity so everyone thrives.
Belonging + excellence. Community compliments competition — we can be kind and still push for great.
Access. Scholarships, instruments, and meals remove barriers so money never decides who gets to belong.
Representation. Our community includes many races, incomes, and identities. We listen, learn, and practice inclusion without putting emotional labor on anyone.
Local pride. We lift the scene here: stages, shops, schools, and partners that make NEPA sing.

How we sustain it

We’re building a $200,000 Sustainability Fund so this isn’t fragile or one-off. Responsible growth (targeting ~10% annually) helps cover:

Camp scholarships
Paid stipends for women and gender-diverse mentors
Instruments, art supplies, and wellness supports
Year-round workshops and showcases

Every show, merch drop, and sponsorship feeds the fund. Long term, our goal is camp free for every kid.

How you can be part of it (choose your lane)

Give $10. It’s one coffee — and it counts. 20,000 neighbors at $10 = a decade of opportunity.
Volunteer. Musician or not, there’s a role: hype crew, merch, snacks, logistics, photo/video, or teaching.
Partner. Businesses: underwrite a scholarship, sponsor a stage, match community gifts, host a pop-up.
Show up. Come to the showcase, clap loud, wear the shirt, tell the story.

What newcomers say after week one

“I thought I was just learning guitar. I found my voice and my friends.”
“I came to help and left with hope.”
“My kid stood on stage and I saw her future widen.”

Our promise

If you show up, we’ll show up.
Bring your voice — we’ll bring the mic.
Dream big — we’ll help build the stage.

Because when girls rock, Scranton does too.

Love,

— The Scranton Girls Rock Team

Women Rock Together II