Virtual Workshops are intended as a space for members to gather as a community, problem solve, and create new tools and skills for our work. We intend to grapple with the problems and questions probing our field forward, and to build community with one another. Each group has different goals, but is intended to offer training, and/or problem solving space related to the field. Each group is facilitated by members and leaders from the field. This year’s virtual working groups will include:
Chief Executives Forum
The Chief Executives Forum is an invite-only working group for Executives and/or Program Leaders of member organizations. Monthly meetings will consist of program leaders sharing and discussing insight from their experiences with the ultimate goal of strengthening their respective organizations. Topics range from “Back to School: Navigating the Return to In-Person Learning” to “Navigating Identity with Young People,” and everything in between.
Chief Executives Forum
- November 12, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT
- December 10, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT
- January 14, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT
- February 11, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT
- March 11, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT
- April 29, 12:15-1:15 pm EDT
- May 13, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT
- June 10, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT

Elizabeth Moulthrop
Executive Director, Paterson Music Project

Angelica Durrell
Executive Director, INTEMPO

Michael Remson
President & CEO, San Diego Youth Symphony
Equity Centered Practices
The goal for this series is to explore how we can better integrate equity centered practices into our work as administrators and teaching artists working on youth development, music, and social justice. Together, we will create a space to build community, learn from and with one another, and explore how to best walk toward justice centered work. We aim to offer space to think theoretically about justice as well as offer practical tools for how to best implement the changes we hope to see.
Check back for upcoming events.
Sessions
Session I: Exploring Identity
This session aims to guide each of us in exploring our own identities. Who are we as individuals, and what drives us in this work? We will also explore what can we do to better understand the lenses we wear, and how they impact our classrooms and work spaces.
Session II: Healthy Relationships
Music is fundamentally about relationships. Our programs involve relationships with students, communities, music, art, and each other. In this session, we will explore what healthy relationships are at their core, and begin to think together about how to center positive relationships in our work.
Session III: Self Care
How can we take care of ourselves? We know that this work involves a lot of our labor and energy! This session is intended to give a few practical tips for practicing self care actively throughout the day (for students & for adults!).
Session IV: Asset Based Language
How can we speak about our work and our students in ways that are focused on their assets?
Session V: Trauma Informed Practice
This session is intended to support teachers and administrators in responding to students who have had a traumatic experience. We will cover issues related to mandated reporting, best practices for child safety, and thinking about how to best protect our students.
Session VI: Change Management
This session is intended to cover change on a small and large scaleHow do we navigate change in our classrooms.

Monique Van Willingh
Director of Cultural Equity and Belonging, New England Conservatory of Music

Angelica Cortez
Interim President and CEO

Calida Jones
Clerk and Symposium & Racial Diversity and Cultural Understanding Committee Chair
Teaching Artist Forum
This group is an invite-only working group for Teaching Artists of member organizations. Monthly meetings will included sharing best practices, trainings in youth development practice, and space for teaching artists to build community with one another.
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Rural and Small Programs
This group is intended for programs located in non-metropolitan areas to think through the unique problems related to their programs. Topics will include teaching artist recruitment, fundraising, and building connections in and outside of our communities.
Check back for upcoming events.
Past Webinars
You can access past webinars in our resource hub!