About
Skate Like a Girl Programs offers skateboarding activities that include Women &/or Trans Sessions, Youth Employment Skateboarding (Y.E.S.), Youth Summer Camp, Youth Outreach, Wheels of Fortune (WOF), and Community Meetups. At public and free Community Meetups, all types of wheels are welcome, and there is no formal instruction. The organization uses skateboarding in all of these programs as the core activity.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
Formed in 2000, Skate Like a Girl Programs now operates chapters in Seattle, Portland, and the San Francisco Bay Area and is headquartered in Seattle. It is a nonprofit organization that serves thousands of individuals annually with a variety of programs and events and is based on unceded Indigenous lands. The organization focuses on empowering individuals, especially young women, trans, non-binary, and gender expansive people, and uses skateboarding as a tool to build confidence, resilience, and inclusive communities. Its mission is to create an inclusive community by promoting confidence, leadership, and social justice through skateboarding, and it works with community partners around trans inclusion in skate spaces. Women &/or Trans Sessions are intended for anyone who does not identify as a cisgender male, including women, trans, non-binary, and/or gender non-conforming skaters, and are open to all ages 5–100. Queer &/or Trans sessions welcome anyone who identifies as queer and/or trans, including cisgender boys and men who identify as queer, and are open to all ages 5–100. All Gender Youth programs are open to all genders and typically serve ages 5–12, while Girls and/or Trans Youth programs welcome girls, trans, non-binary, and/or gender non-conforming skaters, typically ages 5–16. At public and free Community Meetups, all wheels are welcome and there is no formal instruction, and the organization does not offer private lessons or birthday parties as part of its program model but refers to partner skateparks for these services. Skate Like a Girl asks participants for their pronouns to avoid misgendering and to create spaces where youth of all genders feel welcome, and the title “Women &/or Trans Sessions” was chosen through a months-long effort with input from staff, volunteers, and program participants from all three chapter cities. Over more than 25 years, the organization has maintained chapters only in Seattle, Portland, and the San Francisco Bay Area and has no plans to expand beyond these cities. Skate Like a Girl is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and SKATE LIKE A GIRL is a registered trademark of Skate Like A Girl.
The leadership team includes Erika, Carlee, and Patricia in director or program manager roles. Erika has over 10 years of experience in volunteer recruitment, community engagement, managing teams, and partnership development, holds a BS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University, and is finishing an MS in the same field and focus. Carlee has worked with youth for over 6 years in nonprofits, schools, and skateboarding organizations. Patricia comes from a background of music, art, and D.I.Y. organizing and volunteering. Mara works at Commonwealth Skate shop/park, is working toward a BS in Film, and has shot and edited several videos for Skate Like a Girl Portland. Gezel-Jan obtained a BA in Psychology from California State University of San Bernardino. Kelsey studies engineering at the University of Washington, and Mateo studies Environmental Science at the University of Washington.
Last updated August 10, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
Formed in 2000, Skate Like a Girl Programs now operates chapters in Seattle, Portland, and the San Francisco Bay Area and is headquartered in Seattle. It is a nonprofit organization that serves thousands of individuals annually with a variety of programs and events and is based on unceded Indigenous lands. The organization focuses on empowering individuals, especially young women, trans, non-binary, and gender expansive people, and uses skateboarding as a tool to build confidence, resilience, and inclusive communities. Its mission is to create an inclusive community by promoting confidence, leadership, and social justice through skateboarding, and it works with community partners around trans inclusion in skate spaces. Women &/or Trans Sessions are intended for anyone who does not identify as a cisgender male, including women, trans, non-binary, and/or gender non-conforming skaters, and are open to all ages 5–100. Queer &/or Trans sessions welcome anyone who identifies as queer and/or trans, including cisgender boys and men who identify as queer, and are open to all ages 5–100. All Gender Youth programs are open to all genders and typically serve ages 5–12, while Girls and/or Trans Youth programs welcome girls, trans, non-binary, and/or gender non-conforming skaters, typically ages 5–16. At public and free Community Meetups, all wheels are welcome and there is no formal instruction, and the organization does not offer private lessons or birthday parties as part of its program model but refers to partner skateparks for these services. Skate Like a Girl asks participants for their pronouns to avoid misgendering and to create spaces where youth of all genders feel welcome, and the title “Women &/or Trans Sessions” was chosen through a months-long effort with input from staff, volunteers, and program participants from all three chapter cities. Over more than 25 years, the organization has maintained chapters only in Seattle, Portland, and the San Francisco Bay Area and has no plans to expand beyond these cities. Skate Like a Girl is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and SKATE LIKE A GIRL is a registered trademark of Skate Like A Girl.
The leadership team includes Erika, Carlee, and Patricia in director or program manager roles. Erika has over 10 years of experience in volunteer recruitment, community engagement, managing teams, and partnership development, holds a BS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University, and is finishing an MS in the same field and focus. Carlee has worked with youth for over 6 years in nonprofits, schools, and skateboarding organizations. Patricia comes from a background of music, art, and D.I.Y. organizing and volunteering. Mara works at Commonwealth Skate shop/park, is working toward a BS in Film, and has shot and edited several videos for Skate Like a Girl Portland. Gezel-Jan obtained a BA in Psychology from California State University of San Bernardino. Kelsey studies engineering at the University of Washington, and Mateo studies Environmental Science at the University of Washington.
Last updated August 10, 2026.
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