Jazz Empowers Board Member - NYC Advocate

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Jazz Empowers Board of Directors Position - NYC Regional Advocate

Organization: Jazz Empowers is a thriving national nonprofit organization that starts and develops jazz programs in underserved schools. Jazz Empowers currently serves 1400 students in 26 states. Jazz Empowers helps extremely dedicated band directors at underserved schools grow their jazz programs, and also runs jazz programs at schools that would otherwise have no opportunities to teach music to their students. Jazz Empowers will be supporting 6 NYC schools for the 21-22 school year. To watch an inspirational story on how jazz has been able to transform our students' lives you can go to www.jazzempowers.org/nyc.

Position Overview: Jazz Empowers is searching for a new board member in the NYC area that would serve as a NYC regional advocate. This position will serve three purposes.

1. Advocate and support the Jazz Empowers' dedicated students in NYC.
2. Play a crucial role in setting up Jazz Empowers to achieve its future growth ambitions in NYC.
3. Represent the NYC region to the rest of the Jazz Empowers board of directors.

Responsibilities and Expectations:

• Serve as an official Jazz Empowers board member for a full term of three years.
• Be the official board representative for the Jazz Empowers’ programs in NYC.
• Actively fundraise for Jazz Empowers’ programs in NYC by helping expand Jazz Empowers donor base in NYC. Examples for fundraising activities include spreading the word about Jazz Empowers fundraising campaigns, hosting a watch party for the Jazz Empowers virtual gala, and coordinating meetings with potential major gift donors.
• Recruit, start, and lead a Jazz Empowers NYC advocacy team of volunteers. This team would act as a "cheerleading team" for the jazz programs at our NYC partner schools. For example, they would go to select performances to support students, share videos of student performances within their network, and be involved in fundraising campaigns that support Jazz Empowers students in NYC.
• Dedicate at least 5 hours a month towards Jazz Empowers board responsibilities.
• Help oversee and govern Jazz Empowers.
• Consult and advise Jazz Empowers staff.
• Pledge to donate at least $1,000 to Jazz Empowers each calendar year.
• Make it a priority to attend all of the board's quarterly meetings (via Zoom).
• Respond within 48 business hours to Jazz Empowers communications.

Goals For NYC Board Member:

• Attend a Jazz Empowers rehearsal or performance in NYC at least 2 times over the course of each school year. This will allow the board member to get close to the mission of Jazz Empowers and see its impact on student lives.
• Recruit, start, and lead a Jazz Empowers NYC advocacy team of at least 5 volunteers, that would fully launch within 12 months of the start of the board member’s term.
• Partner with Jazz Empowers staff to reach our goal of raising $50,000 for Jazz Empowers NYC programs by 2025.

• At Jazz Empowers we value and celebrate the diversity, culture and unique differences among our students, instructors, and the communities we serve. We understand that socioeconomic status has an unequal impact on our students and schools. We strive to build lasting relationships with our students and instructors to develop programs that cultivate inclusion , equity and engagement with all individuals so they feel valued, respected and supported regardless of racial/ethnic or socioeconomic background. We aim to include diverse perspectives and experiences from all stakeholders in our organizations including students, parents, instructors, staff, and board members.

This position will have a significant impact on student lives at Jazz Empowers. For more information or to express your interest you can reach out to Executive Director and Founder Andrew Johnston at andrew@jazzempowers.org .