Hi everyone!

This is Kristen from the rock band Antigone Rising. I had to consciously stop myself from typing “the all female” rock band, Antigone Rising. You see, if I don’t type it, and you have never heard of our band before, you assume we are all men. That’s the societal default, the universal assumption.

In 2012, the United States Government invited us to the Middle East to perform workshops and talk to boys and girls about what it’s like to be all women in a rock band from the United States. Western artists, in general, boycott and rarely perform in this part of the world. We were an anomaly, to say the least. 

Right here in the United States, my eight year daughter worries about her weight. She is almost always complimented first on her great sense of style, her beautiful eyes or her perfect blonde hair. "Do you know how much those highlights would cost?" Kate is an outspoken kid. Because she's a girl, she often gets labeled "bossy." For the record, Kate is a leader. 

My eight year old son does not know where the scale is in our house. He is lauded for his reading and math skills - both of which are on the same level as his sister’s report card. When asked questions in a group of kids, Thomas will shout out an answer rather than wait to be called on. His answers are usually right (thank goodness). Nobody calls him rude or puts him in his place. In our society, that is his place. 

These two kids are being raised in a home sensitive to all the stereotypical traps and pitfalls awaiting them. Unfortunately, the media is big and mighty, and it reminds my daughter on a daily basis that she’s not good enough unless she wears short-shorts and makeup and loses weight and does what she is told.

Since visiting the Middle East in 2012, our band has reprioritized our efforts. We need to help make a change. So we formed our own nonprofit, Girls Rising, to remind girls and LGBTQ kids they can be anything they want to be. Our visits to schools and youth centers around the world may not be as impactful as a half clothed performance during half time at The Super Bowl, but we are creating ripples, and enough ripples make waves. 

 Every dollar you donate to our nonprofit, Girls Rising, goes directly to our efforts to visit schools and youth centers. It helps us travel there. It helps offset production costs. It helps us plan and promote our cause. It helps us deliver a message of empowerment to young girls and LGBTQ kids. "We came before you, we made it through ok." And they can too if they believe in themselves.

We need to raise $10,000 before the end of this year to meet our end of year goal. In 2018, our hope is to reach as many kids in lower income areas as possible. These kids don't have the means to see positive female or LGBTQ role models, or a way to access art, culture and music. By giving to Girls Rising before December 31st, you will help us access schools and communities and make a difference.

Keep an eye on this page for video updates and blog posts from the band as we work together to meet (and, of course, exceed) our goal. And thank you for an amazing 2017! 

With much love and loads of gratitude,

Kristen