BOARD

Kyla Falcon

Abeer Khatana
Katie Krafft
Lipou Laliemthavisay
Reba Mitchell
Roz Raskin, Secretary
Darlene Reina, Chair

Carly Stearnbourne

Meredith Stern

STAFF

Rikki Davis, Co-Executive Director

Rikki Davis (they/them) was a vocal instructor and band coach with Girls Rock! RI for two years before joining the administrative team. They have made use of their bachelor’s degree from McGill University in Art History and Gender Studies working for music festivals, campaigns, art galleries, and museums in Boston and Maine before their most recent position as program director at Slater Mill. Rikki trained in classical voice for 10 years before leaving the opera world in favor of Rock, Jazz, and Pop. They are currently the vocalist and bassist in the band Top Sugar. As a professional, Rikki is passionate about collaborative leadership, and approaching administration and programming through an anti-oppression lens. In their free time, Rikki is a skater with Providence Roller Derby under the alter ego, RetroRocket.

Denise Mathews-Reidpath, Co-Executive Director

Denise (she/her) was born and raised in Sinaloa, Mexico and Southern California and has called Rhode Island home for over 10 years. She is rooted in the Providence community which drives her work. With a background in bilingual administration and education, advocacy, and community outreach in local organizations, her focus is on positive youth development and educational justice aligned with arts accessibility. As a musician and writer herself, she believes in music creation and expression as a tool for social change. 

Denise also engages in embodiment and mindfulness practices and has volunteered at the youth and adult rock camps to facilitate yoga and body image workshops through the lens of  intersectionality, and trauma-informed practices.

She is currently a student at Providence College SCE focusing on Social Sciences and Secondary Education and when she is not studying, working, rocking out in the duo TALL or finding new hiking trails nearby, she’s enjoying quality time at home with her partner and her cat.

Courtney Brown, (she/her) Professional Development Coordinator / Bonner Fellow
Aileen Feliz, (they/them) Youth Outreach Coordinator / Met Intern

INSTRUCTORS

Rosie Gripton: Youth and Adult Guitar
Rosie (she/her) is a Canadian musician and artist currently residing in Providence, Rhode Island. Her creative pursuits lie at the intersections of punk-rock feminism, D.I.Y, social justice and living everyday with joie de vivre. As an instructor she seeks help her students develop a great breadth of tools to use to express their musical selves. She instructs music in an inclusive, friendly,  and comfortable atmosphere to students from all walks of life, focusing on each student’s individual goals and creative visions.

 

Lucy Coykendall: Youth and Adult Drums
Lucy (she/her) has been involved with GirlsRock! RI for over 4 years. Since beginning, she has been a camper, GRIT, VIT and drum instructor at camp! She began drumming the very first time she participated in Girls Rock Camp. She believes that drumming opens up new pathways to understanding music, and acts as a gateway to learning other instruments as well.  She hopes to aid her students in developing their skills, and guiding them with her personal experience to become fully-fledged drummers.

 

Jacqueline James: Youth and Adult Keyboard
Jacqui (she/her) is a musician from Rhode Island with a background in multiple genres and styles of music. Whether she is writing in a classical style or for her punk band, it is always through a feminist lens with a focus towards LGBTQIA+ issues. As a trans woman who has the energy and privilege to be out spoken, she uses her creative platform to try and challenge cis-centric society views. She teaches using accessible language and takes the approach that anyone can learn how to play an instrument.

Ash Russell: Youth Bass, All Ages Ukulele
Ash (she/her) is multi-instrumentalist, composer and music educator living and working in Providence since 2016. She is involved in several local projects including the What Cheer? Brigade, Martha Martha Martha and Wolf’s Milk. She began volunteering with Girls Rock! at the first drop-in sessions in 2016, then at the camps, and finally began teaching group bass guitar lessons. She is excited to have the opportunity to help people express themselves. As an instructor, she tries to make the most positive and non-judgemental environment possible.

Jasmina Gill-Deleon: Youth and Adult Vocals

Crikkett Young: Adult Bass 

Natalie Hinojosa: Youth Guitar