• GR!DC Leadership

    Photo by Farrah Skeiky

Girls Rock! DC’s leadership strives to represent our community and be true to our inclusive mission.

Adult and Youth leaders guide our programming and fulfill our mission.

Girls Rock! DC is made up of a Board of Directors, youth leaders, two co-executive directors, a team of coordinators and lead instructors, and a community of volunteers.

Past and present members of the GR!DC Leadership Team

GR!DC’s Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors consists of five great folks that are super devoted to Girls Rock! DC and come with skills and experience that help build capacity, but most essentially, reflect our youth and their potential.

Chhaya Kapadia

Chair (on leave)

Lindsey Wahowiak

Interim Chair

Raisa Johnson

Treasurer

Nyaka Mwanza

Secretary

Nicole Williams

Member

Carmen McClaskey

Member

Diana Thu-Thao Rhodes

Member
  • A set of two photos. One is in black and white while the other has a purple filter applied to it. The black and white photo shows a speaker addressing the crowd at the 9:30 club. The second photo in purple shows a band performing on stage at the 9:30 club.

GR!DC’s Youth Leaders

At GR!DC we do all we can to make sure youth voices are heard, and for that, they need to be amplified.

Our Youth Leaders are teens that meet to strengthen their communication and leadership skills and make GR!DC more youth-driven. They give young folks a louder voice in deciding GR!DC’s priorities, direction, and major organizational decisions.

YOUTH LEADERS ARE:

Youth Leaders commit to working with Girls Rock! DC for minimum six months. They can serve multiple terms, there is no limit. They will spend 4-8 hours per month on Youth Leader responsibilities. Youth Leaders will be compensated for their hard work with a stipend.

Youth Leaders meet by zoom one or two times per month for about two hours each with other Girls Rock! DC adult leaders to plan Girls Rock! DC programs, usually on a weekday evening or weekend afternoon. Youth Leaders help with outreach and advertising for Girls Rock! DC. Youth Leaders also have the opportunity to design and lead workshops and other activities throughout the year.

Email info@girlsrockdc.org if you’re interested in learning about being a Youth Leader.

  • A set of three photos. Two have a red filter applied while one is in black and white. All photos show bands and DJ crews performing on stage at the 9:30 club. Decorative accent marks in purple, orange, and magenta are applied to the photos.

GR!DC Co-Executive Directors

Co-Executive Directors form the core of our paid staff! These positions are year-round and part-time. First, these folks will spearhead the transition of GR!DC from an all-volunteer leadership structure to a paid staffing model. They also develop the strategic plan to support the overall functioning and longevity of GR!DC and manage the daily duties and tasks of GR!DC staff and volunteers.

Noel Schroeder

Co-Executive Director

Noel Schroeder is an activist, educator, and organizer in Washington, D.C. with more than decade of leadership in nonprofit management. As Co-Executive Director of Girls Rock! DC, Noel spearheaded the transition of GR!DC from an all-volunteer leadership structure to a sustainable, inclusive staffing model. They manage the internal administration and strategy of the organization, and co-design and implement programs.

Noel is also the Finance Coordinator for Power Shift Network, and youth climate justice network, and provides strategic coaching and justice-centered training for organizations and collectives. In past roles, Noel was the Director of Programs at Women Thrive Alliance, a Teacher Trainer for the Peace Corps in Indonesia, and a teenage anti-war rabble-rouser.

Noel is a core organizer with Ward 2 Mutual Aid and a big fan of creating fiber art, baked goods, and jangly guitar noises.

Shady Rose

Co-Executive Director

Shady Rose is an artist, educator, activist, and DC native. They have lived and worked in DC their whole life building on the strong foundations of progressive movements, anti-racism and solidarity amongst marginalized people. As Co-Executive Director, Shady merges their background in fundraising and communications to drive the growth and potential of Girls Rock! DC, broadening the accessibility of our programs to more of DC’s youth and expanding the involvement of our supportive community.

As the lead singer of their band Lightmare and the Co-Founder of their performing arts project CodAko Entertainment, they‘ve found voice and connection in DC’s vibrant arts community. Their ten-year career in youth work was sparked serving DC’s youth through capoeria, moved through alternative education models working in Montessori schools, and has been rounded out by arts and music education with various organizations in DC.

They are proud to be a part of the interconnected music family within Girls Rock! DC and excited to contribute to quality of excellent service to DC‘s rockin’ youth!

GR!DC Coordinators and Lead Instructors

Coordinators and Lead Instructors are part-time contractors that work with Girls Rock! DC year-round to implement our programs and support the organization!

Frankie Amitrano

Program Coordinator

Tylene Harrell

Administrative Coordinator

Fabiola Castro

Lead Instructor

Damiel Ball

Lead Instructor

Alice Goldberg

Lead Instructor

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY: Girls Rock! DC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national and/or ethnic origin, marital status, sexual orientation, body type, physical ability, gender expression, or other individual identities in the administration of any of its educational programs, admissions policies, scholarships, and other Camp-related policies and programs, as well as volunteer policies and activities. All Camp activities will promote and maintain the personal and emotional safety of all campers and staff. We do not tolerate racism, homophobia, sexism, or other discriminatory behavior or expression.