Girls Rock! Weekend consists of a series of events aimed at celebrating girls' voices and achievements while educating them about important issues. Events have included a film screening, open-mic poetry mashup, live music concert and the Girls Unlimited! Conference.

In April 2008 Hardy Girls Healthy Women hosted the first annual Girls Rock! Weekend - an opportunity for girls of all ages to come together to meet one another, be inspired, learn media literacy skills, and think critically about messages they get about body image and relationships. Participants also had opportunities to create their own media.

In its second year Girls Rock! brought even more girls from the greater Waterville area together and experienced coalition, violence prevention, critical thinking skills, and how to create the world they want for all girls.

2011 marked the third Girls Rock! Awards, in which five nominees, who were (and still are!) using their voices in bold and powerful ways to make Maine a better place for all girls, were honored. The awards were presented to girls ages 12-19 who are making a difference for all girls so that their actions may inspire others. Categories for Girls Rock! 2011 include:

• Title IX Champion
• Health Advocacy
• Against the Odds
• Community Organizing
• Entrepreneurship

We're still going strong for Girls Rock! 2012, so don't miss the line-up we have this year! This year's Girls Rock! Weekend will be held on the weekend of March 30th.

Check out what's in store, below!

The 4th Annual Girls Rock! Weekend line-up:

Friday, March 30th, 2012

HGHW's 14th Annual Girls Unlimited! Conference: Powered By Girl will focus on girls' leadership and social activism for girls in 4th-8th grade. Registration fee is $10 before March 26th, and $15, after. Breakfast, lunch, workshops, take-aways, and a t-shirt are included! Scholarships are available for students to participate at no cost. Click here to register online.  Click here to download and print the GU registration form. Location: Diamond Building, Colby College in Waterville, ME 04901. 8:30am-1:00pm. Click here to see a map.

4th  Annual Girls Rock! Awards: will celebrate five girls making Maine a better place to live and grow. RSVP 207-861-8131 or online at hghw.org by March 23. In lieu of a ticket fee, we are asking for a suggested donation of $20. Students attend for free. Click here to RSVP. Location: Fireside Lounge located on the UMA Campus, Augusta, ME 04330. 5:30pm-7pm  

Saturday, March 31st

Performing Arts Event:  Enjoy a rock concert performance by all female groups from the Maine Academy of Modern Music following the screening of the film Girls Rock: The Movie, a film about a Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp, where girls ages 8 to 18 are taught that it’s OK to sweat like a pig, scream like a banshee, wail on their instruments with complete and utter abandon, and that “it is 100% okay to be exactly who you are.”  What happens to the girls as they are given a temporary reprieve from being sexualized, analyzed, and pressured to conform is truly moving and revolutionary.  Tickets are $10 for adults, students and youth under 18 attend for free. Click here to RSVP Location: Lee Auditorium and the Atrium, University of Southern Maine in Portland.  2:00pm – 4:00pm

Sunday, April 1st

5th Annual Poetry Mashup will give girls and women the opportunity to shout their essays, poetry, songs, etc. from the rooftop! Well, at least from an open mic. Free refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public! Location: Maine Discovery Museum, Bangor ME 04401 Time 12:00pm-1:30pm