This spring session, we're offering a new class for high school girls and gender-expansive youth: Architecture + Activism. This studio class will meet on Tuesdays from 4:30-6:30 and is free for all students to attend. Over 6 weeks, students will learn architectural basics and representational techniques to design a spatial concept for a real-world partner.
“Girls Garage is a place of transformation. As I learned about power tools, I built a house, practiced leadership skills, and learned how to fear less and build more.”
— Ellah, 13 years old
“I learned so much about building, designing, and being a woman. It was amazing that in such a short time I made such great friends and was able to be confident and comfortable with them. I really like how this feels like such a safe and empowering space.”
— Izzy
“The experience was so amazing for me because I got to show my work to school kids, teachers, and parents that use the classrooms and school space. I am so grateful that I got the experience to create a powerful symbol of hope and interconnectedness. I don’t think I could have gotten the same experience anywhere else, creating powerful artwork alongside girls my age, artwork with a social justice purpose.”
— Keiani
“Working with these girls for a very long time has been amazing. I’ve know some for 5+ years and some for barely a week, but I feel like working on this huge project together has made us all even closer. One of my favorite things on the whole process was physically building the actual parklet with the other girls. It was so much fun to work together and hear everyone’s ideas and strategies. Another thing I really enjoyed was the woman from the landscaping architecture firm who talked to us about what they do and some of their advice on our parklet. It also gave me ideas of careers I might want to go into in the future.”
— Mikaela
participating youth since 2013
projects completed since 2013
teen students attending at no cost
Girls Garage is your can-do compendium of all things tools and building! Packed with over 175 illustrated tool guides, 11 how-to projects, 21 essential skills, and 15 profiles of awesome builder girls and women, Girls Garage will inspire you to fill up your toolbox and get building.
"I wrote this book as an invitation for girls to put on their tool belts and build the world they want to see. And I mean that quite literally: I want girls, who have big dreams, goals, and ideas, to have zero barriers to access the tools they need to be successful. That tool might be a hammer, a little extra confidence to try something new, or the ability to see yourself in the world of STEM."
— Emily Pilloton-Lam, Founder of Girls Garage