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STANDING COMMITTEES
From the
Executive Director
ADVOCACY & COLLABORATION
EMILY WILLIAMS BURCH, CHAIR

EmilyWilliamsBurch@gmail.com
Empowering Teacher Advocacy

COMPOSITION INITIATIVES

ROBERT BODE, CHAIR Advocacy might sound like a daunting task, but
bode.58@osu.edu here’s the thing: you’re already doing it, and you

might not even realize it. Whether you’re speaking
DIVERSITY INITIATIVES up in a staff meeting about an important concern
ARREON HARLEY-EMERSON, CHAIR Robyn Hilger at school or carefully nudging a student to do what
arreon@equitysings.com
you need them to do, you’re advocating. You al-
ready convince people to do things they never thought possible to make
EDUCATION & COMMUNICATION
JOHN MCDONALD , CHAIR beautiful music every day. And guess what? You’re great at it.
jtmcdonald@mckendree.edu You know your choir better than anyone else. You know their
strengths, their struggles, and their potential. When you see something
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES that isn’t working—whether it’s a policy, a curriculum gap, or even a
JOSHUA HABERMANN, CHAIR classroom environment that isn’t conducive to learning—who better to
joshhabermann@gmail.com speak up than you? Your voice is experienced and carries weight.
Advocacy doesn’t have to be grandiose or confrontational. It can be
REPERTOIRE & RESOURCES as simple as sharing your observations in a meeting or writing a note
GRETCHEN HARRISON, CHAIR to your administrator, school board member, or city arts council. Start
nationalrr@acda.org small. Maybe it’s advocating for a student who needs a bit more sup-
port, or for a new resource that could benefit your entire ensemble. You
RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS don’t have to take on the world all at once—just focus on what you see
JESSICA NAPOLES, CHAIR right in front of you.

Jessica.Napoles@unt.edu Remember, too, that advocacy isn’t a solo endeavor. Lean on your
colleagues. Chances are, they’ve noticed the same issues you have.
Sometimes it’s as easy as saying, “Hey, I’ve noticed this too—what do
you think we could do about it?” Suddenly, you’re not just a lone voice;
ADVOCACY STATEMENT you’re part of a chorus of voices.
Finally, in the middle of advocating for everyone else, don’t forget to
The human spirit is elevated to a broader understanding advocate for yourself. This looks like protecting your time and peace of
of itself and its place in the world through the study of and mind. Just like the airlines tell us, “Put your own mask on first before
participation in choral music. Singing in a choir produces helping others.” People will take everything that you are willing to give.
more active and involved citizens. It affects self-worth It’s okay to say “no” or “not right now,” and that is important advocacy
in youth and adults. It builds connectivity throughout
communities. Society benefits from the aesthetic beauty for yourself.
and community of singers created by choral programs It’s worth repeating that advocacy is a skill you already possess. The
within schools, houses of worship, and community same skills—communication, empathy, persistence—are all you need
organizations through involved citizenry, connectivity to advocate on a larger scale. So, don’t be afraid to speak up. You’re
throughout communities, and feelings of personal self- not just “the choir director”; you’re a LEADER, a voice for your pro-
worth. The American Choral Directors Association and gram, and a force for positive change. You have everything you need to
its membership resolve to ensure the survival of choral
programs for this and future generations by: advocate for what’s right, and the more you do it, the easier it becomes.
Trust yourself. You’ve got this.
Actively voicing support for funding at local, state,
and national levels of education and government;
collaborating with local and national organizations to
ensure the distribution of arts funding data and arts-
related activism opportunities; advocating for full access
to choral singing and inclusion of all singers in a choral
program; and ensuring the distribution of advocacy
statements and data regarding choral programs.
2 CHORAL JOURNAL October 2024 Volume 65 Number 3