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2025 El Sistema USA Board of Directors Nominations

Open September 27 – October 27, 2024

El Sistema USA is seeking nominations to the Board of Directors from active member organizations. Four directors will be elected for three-year terms starting in January 2025 and ending in December 2027.

All nominations must be submitted by 11:59 pm PST on Sunday October 27, 2024. Voting for nominees will be held the weeks of November 3 – 17, 2024.

Any Organizational Member or Member-In-Training of El Sistema USA may nominate someone to the board. The nominee does not need to be an ESUSA member or member affiliate. Self-nominations are permitted. 

MISSION

El Sistema USA® works to ensure every child has access to high-quality music education that celebrates their voice and potential by supporting a national network of organizations & educators. 

NOMINEE PROFILE

As an organization, we are seeking board members who display a strong commitment to the mission and vision for El Sistema USA and have capacity and time to engage with the organization. We ask that member organizations identify nominees who offer:

  • Expertise in finance
  • Expertise in philanthropy, fundraising, corporate sponsorship, and/or foundations
  • Connections to corporate sector
  • Connections to peer organizations with a national profile

In considering who to nominate, we encourage nominating employees from your organization’s business or development departments, parents and family members, community leaders involved in your programs, board members, and/or others invested in your network committed to music, youth development, and/or social justice.

BOARD COMMITMENT

  • Term of 3 years (2 term max)
  • Time commitment of 3-4 hours per month
  • Full board meetings virtually, which occur once per month
  • Join at least one committee (1 meeting per month)
  • Supporting our financial health by committing to a give-or-get of $1,000

NOMINATION PROCESS

Member Organization should designate a nominator & voting representative (usually the Executive Director or Program Director). Nominator will:

  1. Identify a nominee with expertise in one or more of the priority areas listed above,
  2. Confirm the nominee’s willingness and capacity to be nominated, and
  3. Complete the Board Nomination Form by 11:59pm PST on Sunday October 27, 2024.

The form will require nominee’s basic contact information (name, email, phone), headshot, a brief biography, and a short paragraph describing the reason for nomination. Further endorsements from employees of your organization and/or leaders in the field are encouraged, but not required

Voting for nominees will be held the weeks of November 3 – November 17, 2024.

Please contact info@elsistemausa.org with any questions or concerns.

2025 Board Nominees

Vivian E. Gonzalez

Director, Miami Arts Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer/MDCPS

Vivian Gonzalez is a proud product of Miami Dade County Public Schools Magnet Programs and community music organizations. A 2014 Grammy Music Educator Award Top-Ten…

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Douglas Lausten

Interim Co-Executive Director, INTEMPO

Douglas Laustsen is a musician and educator focused on using both of those roles to build stronger and more engaged communities. He earned a bachelor…

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Garrett Mendez

Artistic Director, Project Music; The Archipelago Project

Garrett Mendez is the Director of Performing Arts at King School in Stamford, CT. Additionally, he is the founding Artistic Director of Project Music, an…

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Dr. Thomas Howard Jr.

Executive Director, Kidznotes

As the Executive Director of Kidznotes, Dr. Thomas Howard Jr. is at the forefront of championing high-quality music education for children. His career spans three…

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