feature image via SPARK Summit.
Carmen’s Team Pick:
If you know me in “real life” or on the Feminist Internet, or if you know anything about me at all, you’re probably well aware that I tend to have my hand in nine feminist movements at once. Hopefully, you’re also aware that one of those movements is SPARK, which started as a summit in 2010 (with moi as a speaker) and is now a full-blown girls’ empowerment powerhouse, with over 20 bloggers full of passion yet all strangely under the age of 18. Spooky sh*t.
If you’ve ever wanted to feel bad about the things you accomplished in your life and how long it took you to accomplish them, these girls are the perfect place to start. They’re awe-inspiring and amazing. I’ve had the extreme pleasure of working with SPARK as an honorary teenage girl for three years, writing on everything from Internet haters to body love and Halloween and contributing to their actions against the sexualization of girls in the media. SPARK was the force that drove us to #EducateCoaches, challenge Seventeen Magazine, and more.
And now, SPARK needs help. Each year, we hold a training for the team, so that girls from around the globe can have the chance to rest easy knowing they’re not alone. It’s completely life-altering to watch these girls meet and greet and work together in person, huddled over pizza and complaining about their sexist history professors and how hard it is to have a feminist consciousness at fifteen. (It’s a hard-knock life out there for smart chicks.) Trainings are where we learn more about ourselves, undergo media training, grow as writers and activists, and do karaoke to Nicki Minaj together. They’re fucking important.
true life: i was a girl activist
To continue holding that training, and sustain a well-established reputation for supporting girls’ activism at all costs, SPARK is fundraising to raise 10K on Piggybackr. We’re fundraising as a team, and I’m playing my part with an individual goal of 500 dollars. And it turns out there’s no day like today for me to begin begging you for loose change! Right? After all, even five or ten bucks will be a huge help to us as we assemble the future!
There’s tons of reasons to donate to SPARK, but here’s the most important one: these girls are the future of feminism. And it’s bright. So get into it!
Side note: Kate Nash gave SPARK 500 bucks and in return, I am writing and performing a rap on her behalf with fellow SPARK grrrl Luci. This is the kind of thing you could do with your life, you know? Think about it. Perks include haikus, mixtapes, and zines in addition to Lil Carmen‘s eternal gratitude. (Also, I believe Sarah Shuster spoke on my personal page, so.)
@c_rios haha! I am so excited!!
— Kate Nash (@katenash) April 24, 2013
You can donate today to show love to SPARK and support girls’ activism. And if you donate through the main page, just make sure you indicate that Carmen Rios is the team member you’re supporting! ‘Cause that’s me! And if I don’t make my goal I’ll be super duper embarrassed. I’m an elder in those parts, you know?
Oh, and I love you in advance.
carmen, you are so amazing. and oh my god, so are these girls! they are everything i wanted but didn’t know how to be when i was a teenager. i’m digging for change underneath my bed at this very moment.
Kate Nash!!! that’s amazing. ha, the sarah s. comment was hilarious. but I feel like jenny s. owes you/women/the world even more
Very amazing article Carmen. You have share your amazing article with us it was like everything funny, crazy, and inspire. I really love your article. I have read twice or thrice. Thanks for sharing your fantastic article.
Good post! This is a very good blog that I will definitely come back to many more times this year! Thanks for the informative post.