Who We Are

Girls Rock! Tulsa is a youth-centered music and mentorship program that empowers girls, women, transgender, and non-binary individuals through creative expression and community. As part of the broader Girls Rock Camp movement, we are rooted in values of inclusivity, equity, and social justice.

We are a nonprofit program dedicated to creating a supportive and inclusive space where young people can explore music, build confidence, and connect with others. Our work is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves access to creative tools, mentorship, and a platform to express themselves

What We Do

Campers, typically ages 10 –18, participate in a week-long program where they:

Learn instruments such as guitar, bass, drums, keys, and vocals
Form bands with their peers
Write and perform original songs
Attend workshops focused on self-expression, identity, and collaboration

Throughout the program, participants are supported by volunteer mentors, including musicians, artists, and community
leaders.

Our Goal

Our goal is to build confidence, leadership, and a sense of belonging through music. The program culminates in a live showcase where campers perform their original songs for the community—celebrating their creativity, growth, and hard work.

Volunteers & Mentors

Girls Rock! Tulsa is powered by a passionate network of volunteers and mentors who bring their skills, creativity, and care to the program. From instrument instructors to band coaches, our volunteers play a vital role in creating a positive and empowering experience for every camper.

Leadership

Kris Rose, Executive Director

Kris Rose is a Tulsa native and third-generation Okie who has been an active part of the Tulsa punk and underground arts scene since the mid-1990s. Her life and work are deeply rooted in storytelling, music, and community.

Kris has traveled extensively across the United States by freight train, Amtrak, Greyhound, hitchhiking, and tour van—experiences that continue to shape her creative voice. Her writing has appeared in The Tulsa Voice, and her short stories have been published by Red Dirt Press and Microcosm Publishing. She is the author of the Oklahoma bestselling zine White Riot/Black Massacre: A Brief History of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, along with The Final Girl: How Horror Movies Made Me a Better Feminist (featured on Joe Bob Briggs’ The Last Drive-In) and Mentally Unbalanced and Violent: The Hagsploitation Film, which was favorably reviewed by Briggs.

Kris is also a musician, currently playing drums in the punk duo Fat Dracula. In addition to her role as Executive Director of Girls Rock! Tulsa, she serves as an events manager and board member of Twisted Arts and is a frequent guest co-host of Sisters of Cinema at Circle Cinema.

She lives in Tulsa with her husband, Dave Dean—bass player and award-winning alternative educator—and a house full of animals. She’d also very much appreciate it if you adopted a cat or two. Follow her work via her Tulsa Guide to the Dead & Dying on Substack or on Instagram @krisrosetulsa57.