FLINT, Michigan — Flint may be known to outsiders for its water crisis and economic hardships, but to those who have spent their lives here, the resilience, creativity, and transformation are genuinely remarkable. One of the most electrifying examples of that spirit is FRYE, which stands for Flint Rocks Youth Empowerment — a five-day music camp that offers kids ages 10 to 16 a chance to explore their voices, instruments, and most importantly, themselves.
Initially launched in 2018 under the name Girls Rock Flint, FRYE has since evolved into an inclusive powerhouse of empowerment, education, and raw musical talent. The camp culminates in a performance at the historic Flint Local 432, where campers form bands, write songs, and take the stage to perform — many for the very first time.
“No experience is necessary, as all gear, meals, and supplies are provided,” the program flyer announces. “Additionally, the kids receive daily top-notch instruction from real working musicians connected to Flint – all at no cost!” That alone is impressive, but the stories behind the chords are what make FRYE unforgettable.
On a hot summer afternoon inside the Flint Crepe Company in downtown Flint, I met with FRYE’s Program Coordinator, Julie Hugunin. Striving to escape the heat, it offered a cool, quiet respite from the bustling streets of downtown Flint.
Inside, the mood was calm, with low ambient lighting casting a golden hue across the tables and the high ceiling. The café was mostly empty, save for a few patrons quietly sipping drinks and talking amongst themselves, including us.
![]()
Courtesy photoYouth learn how to play instruments as they gear up for their stage debuts.
Our conversation begins with a sip of caffeine, the “lifeblood of the millennial,” to start our deep dive into FRYE, exploring how music can help one find their way back to themselves. “After I taught my first voice lesson, it was like, ‘Oh no. This is where I’m supposed to be,” she explains.
As a Flushing kid, Flint area native, and seasoned music teacher, Hugunin’s journey into running a youth empowerment camp came after escaping an emotionally abusive marriage. “I’m now with a wonderfully supportive partner. I’ve been strictly music-supported now. I think the last time I had a regular job was before my kid was born, and he just turned 15. It can be done in Flint.”
This spirit of rebuilding and redefining has infused the FRYE program. “We have cultivated a team and an environment here where everything’s handled,” Hugunin shared between sips. “Any possible eventuality that can happen is also handled. This is a foreign feeling to me.”
And the growth isn’t just behind the scenes. Last year, over 30 kids joined the camp, forming new bands named Faded Grays, Theoretical Goddess, and The Fall of Hiraeth.
In addition to learning how to play instruments, they designed their own logos and, in partnership with Mott Community College, explored various career pathways. FRYE is “more than just a music camp.” It is an organically formed safe space that “teaches [teens] to love themselves.”
Part of that magic comes from FRYE’s radical inclusivity. When the camp first began under the Girls Rock name, Hugunin and the team noticed a shift: fewer “she/hers” and more “they/them,” “he/him,” and everything in between. Rather than double down on gender-exclusive programming, FRYE embraced change.
![]()
Courtesy photoFlint youth are excited about making their bands, writing songs, and learning how to play instruments at FRYE Music Camp. “Every year that we did the camp, I felt like we were inadvertently excluding people,” Hugunin explained. The team responded by creating Flint Rocks Youth Empowerment — an inclusive space welcoming all gender identities. “We are, to my knowledge, the only openly queer-safe kids camp in the area,” she declared. “And I refuse to be quiet about that, especially now.”
And it’s not about the labels, it’s about who gets to feel seen. With an empathic gaze, Hugunin shared the story of one camper who didn’t speak for the first three days of camp. They were non-verbal, neurodivergent, and exploring their gender identity. Realizing this, Hugunin empowered an older student worker to offer the camper quiet support, patience, and presence. “By the end of that week,” Hugunin recalled, “not only did he play on stage with everybody else, he sang.”
Even her own son found space in FRYE to explore his identity. “The last year that we were Girls Rock was the first year he road-tested the name, Oliver. He’s transgender. And so this program was a place for him.”
FRYE’s essence lies in its grassroots roots. “It is the city of Flint. It’s the people of Flint that make it happen,” Hugunin boasted. “If we put out a call on social media like, ‘Hey, FRYE needs this,’ we end up turning people down. It is a homegrown and home-supported program.”
And it’s not just donations of instruments and gear, it’s sponsorships, volunteer time, and community partnerships. FRYE’s sponsorship tiers are playful yet impactful, ranging from the $100 “Garage Band Sponsorship” to the $1,000 “World Tour Sponsorship.”
Each level offers opportunities and chances for parents and the community to contribute directly to the success of young musicians.
![]()
Courtesy photoA FRYE performance takes place inside Flint Local 432.
“One of the super cool things about this is, of course, the kids perform at The Local. [But] a lot of their parents used to play at The Local. So, they’re watching their babies on the stage, where they met some of their best friends. They used to hang out there, chill, and meet new bands. Then to see their kid up there jamming on that guitar, looking like a rockstar, they’re so proud.”
Even as FRYE sees much success, Hugunin isn’t slowing down anytime soon. She’s looking to expand. “I want to do a theater one,” she said, outlining plans for a similar program that would offer kids the chance to mount a full production — from stage tech to performance — and gain experience in a field where opportunities in Flint are still scarce. “Especially for kids that are divergent, the arts are really, really helpful.”
But as FRYE grows, Hugunin's role is shifting, too. “I am working on taking more of a behind-the-scenes role,” she said. “I am gonna hand over camp operations to a younger generation. I’m working on building the next thing.”
For Hugunin, this evolution isn’t just about growth, it’s about healing. “I am now authentically and unapologetically myself,” she shared. “And I don’t know where I’m going, but it feels like coming home.”
For FRYE, its staff, volunteers, and campers, home is at the end of every concert, where they bring all the kids back up on stage. “These people believe so much in you that they raised all of the money to put you here,” she tells them. “And they’re gonna tell you the same thing I’m gonna tell you: Never bet against a Flint kid.”
The phrase stuck. It was shared on social media, printed on t-shirts, and echoed by community members and young rock stars alike. “That’s a Flint phrase,” Hugunin said. “I was the first one to say it, but I don’t take credit for it. It was the experience that came up with that phrase.”
In Flint, FRYE is more than a summer camp. It’s a movement that's powered by authenticity, love, and the unwavering belief that kids, given space and support, will always rise to the occasion.
As Hugunin puts it: “If you give a kid an opportunity to impress you, they will blow your mind. Every time.”
To learn more about FRYE Music Camp, find and follow them on Facebook.