FOCUS ON COALITION BUILDING: Think Globally, Act Locally – and Why Reading This is NOT an Advocacy Action
It is exhilarating to participate in the expansion of the music education advocacy base that is developing in the SupportMusic Coalition. This coalition is a group convened by NAMM (the International Music Products Association) and MENC (The National Association for Music Education) to unify the efforts of over 120 diverse organizations. Each of us, in our own way, is now contributing to an action-oriented agenda that is grounded in one common goal: to expand access to quality, standards-based music education for all children.
Listen, Learn & Share: Become a Coalition Affiliate
As one NAMM-member recently commented to me, “I just love listening to the monthly conference calls.” When asked why, he confirmed what we hear from many others: the coalition conference calls are an opportunity to share information, knowledge and activities previously unavailable except to a handful of professionals engaged in policy development activity.
The low-tech nature of our conference calls allows people who are on various levels of the policy-development learning curves to learn from each other. The opportunity for advocates to learn and engage around policy development is, to borrow an expression from a familiar ad campaign, priceless. If you are a member of an organization associated with music or music education, I urge you to learn more about the SupportMusic Coalition – just send an email inquiry with organizational description via the ‘Contact Us’ link on the homepage of www.supportmusic.com so you can jump into the next coalition call.
But let’s not lose our heads. I believe that knowledge is power, but knowledge without action might produce an interesting conversation about advocacy but frankly, this is not enough. The conference calls help keep affiliates informed about federal and state-level policy development and some actions that are taking place in local communities. The goal of this knowledge sharing is to broaden the context of local advocacy efforts – honestly, the efforts that truly matter the most – and then to align these efforts around common messages that strengthen resolve and produce results on all levels.
Knowing about policy actions that are taking place on the federal level is enlightening. This “big picture” perspective provides information about what key messages are being used for a specific time period – be it legislative activity like No Child Left Behind (NCLB) re-authorization (ongoing throughout the coming months) or actions to advance assessments about access to music and arts education. (NOTE: The Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) is the only Department of Education-produced research on the current status of arts education in American public schools. This research has not been updated since 2000 and getting a new report has been one of our goals since the start of the Coalition.)
Federal policy development and raising our key issues with members of Congress also serves as a “bully pulpit” for our mission and messages. When you take action in your community, you can leverage actions that take place on the federal level to strengthen your position.
An example of this is Concurrent Resolution121 which was secured in the House of Representatives in 2007. Like its predecessors (Concurrent Resolutions 35 and 355), this Resolution endorses, for the third year in a row, the “sense of the U.S. House” that music education is a vital part of a quality education for all children. Even though these Resolutions are not a mandate and they do not provide a tap-able funding stream to support programs, this position taken by members of Congress can be used to underpin messages and actions on the local level. These Resolutions show that the leadership of our democracy has articulated a standard of what is “best” and what “quality” means.
Share Your Knowledge to Positively Support Local Advocacy Efforts
When you present a case for music education to your local school board – either proactively or during a time of threat to programs – reference the sense of Congress that music education is important. Bring the weight and meaning of our democratic process into a debate about the quality of children’s education. Make sure that a definition of quality education in your district includes music. ‘All children need and deserve a quality, standards-based music education’ is the primary message that must be carried by local advocates. And, this message must be communicated, beyond the school board meeting room, by every means possible – newsletters, media outreach, your organization’s website, etc.
In other words, to truly advance music education access and equity for all children, advocates must ACT where it truly matters -- on the local level. And, to be truly effective, whether as an affiliate of this SupportMusic Coalition or as a member of the music education coalition in your community, this means you must also ACT. How do you begin to act? The first step is to inform and guide your constituents, the people who can potentially inspire and motivate action on the local level.
“Think Globally, Act Locally” Formula
TAKE ONE PART macro-level knowledge about the music and arts education advocacy issues achieved through participation in the national advocacy network.
ADD TWO PARTS of concrete local action for advocacy in your own zip code.
EQUALS: Ongoing education and action about the vital role music education plays in a complete education for all children.
Here’s a short list of “what you can do to act locally” – both individually and as an organization:
Include a link to www.supportmusic.com on all outgoing materials (school newsletters, websites, school concert programs, posters, media releases, letters to the editor, etc.). Urge your constituents to use this site to plan for and implement advocacy actions starting with participating and celebrating current opportunities for music learning in the schools and communities.
Learn more about the music education networks and offerings within your school and community. Build a positive network of knowledgeable supporters and cheerleaders for music education. If you don’t already have a music coalition in your community, you can find out how to start one here.
Where programs exist, engage, thank and praise local school leadership for their support for music education. Celebrate local programs and student accomplishments. Work with school leaders to develop improvements for more opportunity for music in school.
If threats or cutbacks exist to programs, bring forth all the rationale and research data to support the importance and meaning of music in school. Galvanize parental support for the importance of music education in school offerings. A clear, united voice from parents about what matters for their children’s education is vital. The SupportMusic Community Action Kit takes you step-by-step through an advocacy campaign.
to communicate to your members of Congress and state legislators. Let them know that access to music education is a personal and community concern.
Your opinion matters – locally and globally – but only if decision makers hear your message. If you have made it to the end of this article, complete the advocacy loop – send your message now and ACT!
-- Mary L. Luehrsen is Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations for NAMM, the International Music Products Association. NAMM sponsors this web site, the Coalition’s monthly conference calls, and a wide array of ongoing advocacy efforts on behalf of a quality, standards-based music education for all children.
