CMA Foundation and NAfME Announce Three 2022 State Advocacy Award Grant Winners

In collaboration with the CMA Foundation, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) announces the 2022 recipients of the State Music Education Association Advocacy Grant Awards. These grants support the work of NAfME federated music education associations (MEAs) by augmenting existing advocacy initiatives and creating new advocacy opportunities.

“NAfME applauds all of the critically important advocacy work that is done at the state level on behalf of music education,” said NAfME President Scott R. Sheehan. “We are especially proud of these three music education associations for their exceptional efforts in advancing music education opportunities for students in their states. Through the support of the CMA Foundation, these advocacy initiatives will increase equitable access to music for more students in schools and increase public awareness of the significance that music education has on the lives of children. All of us at NAfME are very thankful to Tiffany Kerns and the CMA Foundation for their continued support of advancing music education and support state level advocacy projects such as these. We look forward to seeing the impact these programs will have in the months and years to come.”

Learn about the three MEAs selected this year for grants to aid their advocacy efforts:

• Kansas: Kansas Music Educators Association will develop a grassroots campaign for the “full” inclusion of music education in the Kansas curriculum with a primary goal of educating the public on the importance of music in a child’s education.
• Louisiana: To address the lack of funding for music as part of a well-rounded education, especially in rural areas, Louisiana Music Educators Association will hold its first Hill Day with state legislators and strengthen relationships with state organizations representing principals, superintendents, and school boards.
• New Jersey: New Jersey Music Educators Association will be creating a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access survey to better understand community needs in providing all students with access to a viable, sequential, and enduring arts program in their public schools.

“As a national organization in music education, we understand the critical role advocacy plays to educate and inform all audiences,” said Tiffany Kerns, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “The State Advocacy grant through NAfME remains one of our most important investments to date. NAfME allows states like Kansas, Louisiana, and New Jersey to thrive when putting the voices of their teacher community first, ultimately impacting the students who these teachers influence. We are proud supporters of the NAfME State Advocacy grant and look forward to the success of the awarded states’ associations.”