Lacey Levy believes that one of the best things we can give young girls is confidence. “As we all know it’s very important to give our girls the tools to empower themselves through education, social interaction and positive reinforcement,” she said.

Levy has served since January 2017 as the Executive Director of Girls Rock Roanoke (GRR), an all-volunteer, community-based organization in the Roanoke Valley. The primary focus of GRR is to empower girls and women through music, creative expression and collaboration while supporting positive change in their own lives and communities. There are currently eight members on the Girls Rock Roanoke Board.

In an attempt to raise funds for its summer camp and year-round programming, GRR held a Spring FUNdraiser last Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Parkway Brewing Company. All of the music acts – Nocturnal, Autumn Goff, Morgan Phlegar, Joy Truskowski, Sharayah Spears, L.A. Dies, Vinyl & Tonic and Eternal Summers – did a great job putting on a show for attendees.

Girls Rock Roanoke is able to function because of donations they receive from the community. “We are totally community supported. We don’t get any funds from local or state government. We don’t get grant money,” Annemarie Carroll said. “Everything that we do is a result of community donors. Individual donations of any amount is super important to us as well.”

Founded by Hollins University Professor LeeRay Costa in 2001, hundreds of girls have been positively impacted by Girls Rock Roanoke.

Lacey Levy is extremely proud of what GRR has been able to accomplish over the years. “We accept girls from everywhere in Virginia, not just Roanoke,” she said. “Our campers don’t need any musical experience. They come in. They get a band. They get an instrument. All along the way we are doing workshops and teaching them skills in communication and conflict resolutions, along with confidence building and how to amplify their voices.”