A week-long music and songwriting camp for changemakers in grades 5-8. August 18-22, 2025
Unleash your voice and creativity at Songwriting for Justice, a one-of-a-kind songwriting camp where music, humanism, and activism meet! This weeklong summer camp is designed for musically-inclined youth in 5th through 8th grade who are passionate about making a difference in their community– prior experience playing an instrument is a plus, but not a requirement! Here, you’ll have the opportunity to write your own powerful protest songs that advocate for causes close to your heart, all while learning and collaborating in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Throughout the week, you’ll dive into hands-on workshops where you’ll explore playing different instruments, hone your songwriting and composition skills, and gain inspiration from iconic protest songs throughout history. Collaborate with your peers and the staff of First Unitarian as you analyze the lyrics of revolutionary anthems and workshop each other’s compositions. You’ll gain valuable technical and artistic skills, build confidence in your craft, and develop a keen sense of your values and how to express them.
On the final day, join us for an exciting Songwriter’s Circle where you’ll share your original protest songs, celebrating your voice and the power of art for social change. This camp is the perfect opportunity to ignite your inner activist, express yourself creatively, and connect with other like-minded young changemakers!
At Songwriting for Justice, we’re not just writing protests songs—we’re building a community of empowered youth working to steward a world of peace, equity, and connection…
Details:
- Cost: $350 per child; scholarships available. See registration form.
- What’s Included: Daily lunch provided!
- Dates: August 18th to August 22nd, 2025
- Location: First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, 900 Mt. Curve Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55404
Join our group of young activists, writers, and musicians. Together, we can create change—one song at a time!
Meet our instructors:
ZOLA ROSENFELD:
Zola grew up in San Francisco and has called Minneapolis home since 2021, graduating with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development. Armed with years of experience as a preschool teacher, arts education specialist, and nonprofit professional, she joined the team of First Unitarian last summer as Education Director! As a self-taught songwriter and musician regularly performing around the Twin Cities, Zola traces her artistic origins back to theater, classical voice, and creative writing. A multi-instrumentalist, her primary instruments are guitar and voice. Strongly influenced by the emotional expressiveness and musicianship of songwriters like Elliott Smith, Aimee Mann, and Joni Mitchell, Zola’s sound resonates somewhere in the realm of acoustic indie pop. A couple of social justice causes close to her heart include intersectional feminism, LGTBQ+ equity and allyship, and combating religious discrimination.
SOPHIA SPIEGEL:
Sophia is a cellist, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter based in Minneapolis, and performing often throughout the midwest and east coast. She brings over ten years of teaching experience, drawing on methodologies from Audiation, Alexander Technique, Janos Starker, and Suzuki. Her training includes work with pedagogues such as David Carter, Zacc Harris, Eugene Friesen, Kurt Baldwin, Anna Clift, and others. She is founder, lead-singer, and guitarist of jazz-fusion and indietronica band Dilly Dally Alley, lauded for their “pop smarts, soulful grooves, deft dance vibes” from sources like The Current, NPR, A&R Factory, and more. Her artistry is defined by interactive performances and genre-blending sound that shifts from jazz to punk, techno, and hyper-pop, often hosting shows with a rotating host of artists and organizers. Sophia is also pursuing a Masters in Divinity at Yale Divinity School. She considers her loving upbringing in her UU congregation in Illinois as a foundational influence on both her journey toward UU ministry and her artistic expression. When she’s not studying or playing, Sophia loves to bake bread, play basketball, run, bike, and go on tiny adventures with friends. Sophia has a degree in music and religion from St. Olaf College
MIKE VASICH:
Mike Vasich is the music director for First Unitarian Society, and an active performer and music educator in the Twin Cities. Mike chairs the music department at St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists where he directs the jazz and contemporary ensembles, and teaches classes about music theory, composition, music history, and music production. Mike studied music at Macalester College (B.A. in music, ’05) and the University of St. Thomas (M.A. in teaching, ’15) and holds a MN K-12 teaching license in instrumental and classroom music.
JACOB MULLIS:
Jacob Mullis is a Minneapolis-based singer and songwriter. With years of experience writing and performing in acclaimed Twin Cities bands such as Solid Gold, Champagne Confetti, and Fort Wilson Riot he brings real-world insight into the world of songwriting, performance, and collaboration. In addition to his work as a musician, Jacob runs social media for the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis and brings technical expertise in live audio/video production and studio recording—skills he’s excited to share with participants looking to explore both the creative and technical sides of music production. Jacob is thrilled to be part of this year’s music summer camp and can’t wait to help students find their voice, make new friends, and have fun making music together!