Mia hits the Jannus stage and plays her five-day-old song to a large crowd. Photo by Whitnie Williams
Girls Rock St. Pete: Self-Confidence Soars After a Week of Rock ‘n’ Roll By Suzanne Driscoll Here in St. Petersburg, “Girls Rock” isn’t just a slogan. For those in the know, this summer camp provides a transformative experience focused on self-care, fearless expression and building community. “Girls Rock St. Pete empowers girls to take up space, use their voices and to see each other as allies instead of competition,” says Executive Director Jesse Miller. “We serve girls and gender-expansive youth ages 8-17, regardless of their ability to pay or play an instrument. Girls Rock St. Pete’s founder Rachael Sibilia was touring with her punk band when she learned about a Girls Rock camp in another city. She came home excited to bridge her passion for music and social justice and founded the camp in 2015. After a career in foster care, Miller wanted a new opportunity to build confidence and self-worth for the girls who fell through the cracks. “We owe it to our girls to provide the tools to live confidently
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Camp activities form trust and establish positive vibes all week long. Photo by Marissa Rafalski
and bravely in a world that still condones gender inequity.” Studies have shown that a collapse in the self-confidence of girls begins at puberty and often remains throughout adulthood. This can adversely impact a woman’s long-term personal and professional success as well as her mental health. Negative self-talk, body dysmorphia, depression, judgment, and anxiety can strip away self-confidence and create unhealthy lifestyle habits. “We are taught from a young age that our value is based on our appearance,” Sibilia says. “At Girls Rock we build self-worth through resilience and collective care.”
