“Joy, Power and Possibility” is the message of Girls Club, a social organization and after school program that was founded in 1998, in New York’s Lower East Side, to fill a void. There were three boys’ clubs in the neighborhood, but nothing for girls nearby, so a coalition of neighborhood Moms, including Lyn Pentecost, Jen Valette, Nancy Vega, Leana Parilla, Dolly Chavous, Zulma Zayas, Judith Brown Leigh, and Blanca Martinetti, stepped in to create Girls Club.

They initially went door to door in the neighborhood to spread the word, and to find a location for the club. Over the years, that location has become a state of the art center for technology and learning, but the mission has remained the same: to provide a safe place for young women to interact, and find their voice as activists for their community.

Music is one of the many creative outlets Girls Clubs offers its members. Beats by Girlz is one such program which partners with Girls Club, and offers an introduction to music production, songwriting and beatmaking. The Avenue DJs is another program, and one that exists within Girls Club to offer up-and-coming DJs performance opportunities. As a part of Girls Club, members receive DJ lessons as well as opportunities to perform at shows as they develop their skills behind the decks. Kelly Webb aka DJ Baby K manages the squad, and has focused on building it into a viable DJ crew. She regularly hosts guest DJs for lessons and seminars, and has brought in Spinderella, DJ Shiftee, DJ Perly, DJ Saige and Natasha Diggs, among others. DJ Reborn, one of their early co-instructors is currently on tour as the DJ for Lauryn Hill and the Fugees.

Although all programs are free of charge for members, the opportunities for members are significant, and include internships at which girls receive money for college, a mentorship program with Nessa from HOT97, and performance time with major stars. Girls Club DJs have opened for Doja Cat, played at the Museum of the City of New York, and Lincoln Center as well as numerous block parties.

You can learn more about Girls Club by checking out their web site, or by following them on Instagram @girlsclubny.