Today we’d like to introduce you to Murphy Williams.
Hi Murphy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
A number of years ago, I was getting tattooed at a convention, and the artist’s wife was with him. They were the coolest couple seriously ever, and they both skateboarded. She was telling me about a meetup group in Austin that she was a part of (las chicaz), and I instantly became obsessed. I had always wanted to learn how to skate, and seeing a group of women come together really inspired me.
I got a skateboard.
I spent about a year without stepping on it more than probably 5 times? Every time I would go try to skate, I was with a group of very talented guys (super nice and encouraging but they had all been skating for over a decade so trying to help me learn to push and turn/basic skills was not reallyyyyyy in their wheelhouse).
One day I realized I needed a group of my own to learn with. So built a skatepark in my backyard. I called up my best friend Dana and ran an idea by her. I wanted to post a flyer to my Instagram inviting people over to learn to skate in the safe privacy of my own home. She’s an illustrator and made the cutest thing for me to post! 4 people showed up that following Wednesday at 3 pm and we attempted to learn how to skate together. 2 of them I didn’t even know at the time. November 11th, 2019.
It was SO fun. So, I decided to make it a weekly thing and kept an open invite to the community. We made an Instagram page and have been continuing the meetups at least once a week since that date. I think we’ve missed maybe 3 weeks in the past almost two years, and that was due to weather.
Since progressing to a point where I was comfortable on a skateboard, I’ve always had teaching beginners in my heart. Even in the beginning, I had a dream of putting on a free skate camp for beginners (everything being completely free and accessible to participants is wildly important to me. I want anyone who has the itch to skate to be able to, regardless of money or transportation issues).
A few of the girls approached me one Wednesday evening about becoming a nonprofit, and I shot it down immediately. I didn’t want to run the meetups like a business and that’s what I assumed it would look like if we became an organization. My cousin approached me not a week later because she knew I wanted to put on a camp. She runs her own nonprofit production company called Winterland Presents and makes music accessible to everyone through sliding-scale ticketing. I thought about it for a while and eventually came around to the idea with all of the possibilities to give back to the community whirling around in my head. I had been paying for everything out of pocket for over a year and was getting to a point where I couldn’t afford it anymore.
We decided to do a skateboard auction to raise the money to become a nonprofit. We got donations from incredible artists all over the country and even once in France. It turned out to be a fun event and we did end up making enough money to file the paperwork.
Once we got the clear to raise money, I began contacting skate companies for gear donation for the summer camp idea. It was really hard, and without the Block Skate Supply none of it would have been possible. They introduced us to so many reps, and we ended up getting most of what we needed either for free or at a very discounted price. We supplied roller skates and skateboard parts to each camper as well as safety gear and had snacks and drinks ready. We taught the campers how to put boards and skates together and started with basic skills and moved into dropping in and a few simple tricks. At the end of the week, we visited a public skatepark to get everyone comfortable in that setting. It was super fun, and I am grateful to all of the campers, donors, and volunteers.
Since then, we have still been meeting every week and welcoming anyone who wants to be a part of our family.
We are working on getting some custom wheels made by Cherries Wheels to raise money for our next community project.
I could literally go on forever about our story and what’s been happening over the time we have been hanging out, but I figure that’s the meat and potatoes of everything.
One thing I do want to include is just the whole concept of how amazed I am that people show up not knowing anyone and wanting to learn a new skill. I am so socially awkward; I would never have the guts to do something like that.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Honestly, it has been very organic.
I have a lot of issues finding financial help, but I think that is just because I don’t really know how to approach that whole thing.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Outside of Lady Skate Day, I work at my family’s marina and own a cosmetic tattoo studio. It’s a weird variety of things I know, but I love everything that I do.
I love working at the boatyard and carrying on my grandfather’s legacy. I learn so much every day.
I am also very proud of Black Rose Cosmetics. We specialize in skincare and cosmetic tattoos at an accessible price. We offer brow discounts to people who have undergone chemo and free areola tattoos to those who have had mastectomies or top surgery.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I am wildly inspired by other skate crews. I love to see what people are doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ladyskateday.org
- Instagram: @ladyskateday
