On bus shelters across the city of Berkeley, twelve pieces created by the Winter 2025 cohort of Protest + Print are now installed, showcasing powerful work that elicits hope in a time of political strife. The next time you’re out for a ride—whether by bike, bus, or car—or on a walk around town, keep your eyes peeled for these beauts on a bus shelter near you.
“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
“I loved being able to help the community and form bonds with other girls and non binary people. It was so nice to have a space where everyone listened to each other and genuinely wanted to understand one another. ”
— Vivian, 17 years old
“Girls Garage has opened up doors to so many different worlds that I would have not known existed if it wasn’t for this program. It shows every girl that they have in each of them a person who can do anything. They give you tools that can be used throughout your whole life along with an amazing community that cheers you on every step of the way.”
— Iris
“Free tuition at Girls Garage has eliminated any barriers that could deprive me of an experience that I believe all girls should have access to. It has allowed me to practice something I am passionate about, in a safe space, without having to worry about fees, as well as allowed some of my closest friends to attend these empowering classes with me. If I wasn’t able to be a part of Girls Garage, I would have never found my love for engineering and design, which is what I’m going to do in college and as a career in the future.”
— Erica, 17 years old
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