Call for Board of Directors Nominations

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 2024 and ending in January 2027.

All nominations must be submitted by 11:59pm PST on Friday October 27, 2023. Voting for nominees will be held the weeks of November 6 – November 19, 2023.

Any organizational member may nominate someone to the board. The nominee does not need to be an ESUSA member or member affiliate.

As an organization, we have strong program leadership represented on our board, with 10 members of our board who lead and/or have founded El Sistema-inspired programs. In considering who to nominate, we encourage nominating employees from your organizations business or HR departments, parents and family members, community leaders involved in your programs, board members (only if you do not see this as a conflict to your organization, of course!), and/or others invested in your network committed to music, youth development, and/or social justice. As we begin the board nomination process for this year, we ask that you help us build on our programming strengths by helping us recruit members of the board who can support the mission and vision for El Sistema USA.

Mission: The mission of El Sistema USA is to support and grow a nationwide movement of programs inspired by El Sistema to effect social change through music for children.

Vision: El Sistema USA is a national voice for the intersection of musical excellence and equity in music education, with a focus on student agency and voice. We are a comprehensive resource for music teaching artists, organizations, researchers, educators, policy makers and funders to understand this intersection.

Board Members We Seek

As described above, as an organization, we are seeking board members who display a strong commitment to the mission and vision for El Sistema USA. We ask that member organizations identify nominees who have one or more of the following areas of expertise:

• Business operations (e.g. financial, HR)
• Managing and executing programs or projects related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging
• Philanthropy, fundraising, corporate sponsorship, and/or foundations
• Connection to peer organizations with a national profile

All nominees should:

• Connect with, and uphold the mission and vision of our organization (listed above)
• Meet the commitments listed below.

While we are appreciative of program leadership, we ask that you consider nominating members who might bring expertise that would supplement the strong program leadership represented on the board!

Board Commitment

• Time: 3-4 hours per month
• Full board meetings virtually, which occur once per month
• At least 1 committee meeting, which occurs once per month
• Supporting our financial health by committing to a give-or-get of $1,000

Logistics & What You’ll Need To Fill Out This Form

Step One: Member organization designates its nominator & voting representative (usually the Executive Director or Program Director).

Step Two: Member organization identifies a nominee with expertise in one or more of the priority areas listed above.

Step Three: Member organization shares the El Sistema USA® board nomination opportunity with the identified nominee and confirms their willingness to be nominated.

Step Four: Member organization collaborates with the nominee to complete the Board Nomination Form by 11:59 pm PST on Friday October 27, 2023. (The form will require nominee’s basic contact information (name, email, phone,) 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.)

Step Five: Member organization’s nominator & voting representative will vote for 4 board candidates between November 6- November 19, 2023.

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