When I was younger, I spent my summers at an all girls sleep-away camp in West Virginia. Camp was where I discovered so many important things, but the most important thing I discovered at camp was Riot Grrrl. Though the movement was far from perfect, it was my first exposure to young women who weren’t […]

When I was younger, I spent my summers at an all girls sleep-away camp in West Virginia. Camp was where I discovered so many important things, but the most important thing I discovered at camp was Riot Grrrl. Though the movement was far from perfect, it was my first exposure to young women who weren’t afraid to raise their voices about things that mattered to them — or against things they saw as oppression or injustice. Mix tapes were their own form of communication at camp and during that first year a friend made me a mix tape with songs by Bikini Kill. That was my first exposure to singer, artist and activist Kathleen Hanna and my life was forever changed. Kathleen started Bikini Kill shows by calling all “girls to the front” and she made it crystal clear that she was in charge of that stage and no one could mess with her (or other women in the room). That energy and attitude informed not just my sense of self and self-worth, but it informed and inspired generations of young people (of all gender identities) to speak up and speak out about what matters most to them.

Kathleen has contributed so much to the creative community (you migh...