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RCR Announces Partnership with Rock ‘N’ Roll Camp For Girls

Portland, OR (May 2019):
Rose City Rollers (RCR), Portland’s premier Roller Derby League, are excited to officially announce our partnership with like-minded Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp For Girls (RNRC4G). A primary goal of the partnership is to seek a venue in which the two organizations can call home. RNRC4G does not currently have a permanent venue, and RCR has been on the search for a new home that will offer increased capacity and create opportunities for further partnerships such as this.
RNRC4G and RCR are 501(c)(3) non-profits, both established in the early 2000’s. Since then they have been staples in the community, offering safe and inclusive spaces founded on the values of empowering women, girls and Portland’s gender-expansive community.
Gloria “Trixter” Bigback (left) jamming for the Little Red Riveters skirts the pack in bout against the Death Scar Derby Droids. Both are teams are part of RCR’s Junior Derby program, which serves youth athletes aged 7-17. Photography Credit: Regularman Photography
“Rose City Rollers are thrilled to partner with Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls and are excited about the opportunities a shared venue present. Think about it – after school tracks full of youth derby players and practice rooms brimming with aspiring young musicians.” Says Kim “Rocket Mean” Stegeman, RCR Executive Director. “Then, on the weekends, the public can take in derby bouts or music showcases. Exciting stuff. The young version of me is jealous.”
Waves of Haven”, a teen band from summer camp 2017, get their fierce band photos taken.
“Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls is really excited about partnering with Rose City Rollers,” says Kristi Balzer, RNRC4G Executive Director. “We have not had a permanent home in many years and it has made running and expanding programming very difficult. Finding a collaborative space with RCR, who shares our dedication to the empowerment of girls and gender expansive youth, will be a game changer for both of us.”

The RCR Juniors program is comprised of close to 200 skaters, with continuous membership growth, and RNRC4G serves around 260 budding musicians annually. Along with supporting these robust youth programs, a new venue would also sustain RCR’s adult teams and programs and open the doors to future partnerships with organizations that share our core values.

The ideal space would be 25,000 – 30,000 sq ft, accessible to transit, accommodate 750-1000 in seating and be located in SE, N, NW, or NE (more info on venue specs can be found here). As one can imagine, options are limited given the Portland real estate market. Additional partnerships, specifically those seeking to share the building with us, would make the possibility of this venue much more achievable. For more information about the different partnerships we’re seeking, please visit the RCR Partnerships Page.
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About Rose City Rollers:

The Rose City Rollers serve women and girls who want to play the team sport of roller derby, connect with an inclusive community, and realize their power both on skates and off. They are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, formed in  2004, and a founding member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association.  RCR currently serves more than 600 skaters and is supported by over 800 volunteers.

About Rock ‘N’ Roll Camp For Girls

Rock ’n’ Roll Camp for Girls (RNRC4G) is a 501(c)3 non-profit that amplifies the voices of campers aged 9–17 as they form bands, learn an instrument, write an original song, and perform together live before an audience of their families, friends, and peers. We provide a fun, fearless, and supportive environment for girls who are cis-female, transgender (regardless of identity), and gender non-binary to explore music, art, and creative self-expression. Our programs of empowerment cultivate youth leadership, encourage the pursuit of positive social change, and contribute to the vitality of our communities.