November 20, 2023 I Event
NAMM Holds Annual D.C. Advocacy Fly-In
From left: NAfME's Scott Sheehan and Amanda Karhuse and NAMM CEO John Mlynczak present Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed's staffer with a 'Best Communities for Music Education' commemorative flag during the Hill Day in D.C. on November 15.
NAMM held its annual Washington, D.C. Advocacy Fly-in last week from Nov. 13–15, where NAMM members representing 41 states met with members of Congress and their staffers to advocate for music education funding on Capitol Hill.
The three-day event started with a Day of Service on Nov. 13 at the University of the District of Columbia where NAMM members spoke with high school and college-aged students about the benefits of a job in the music industry. A Briefing Day took place on Nov. 14 when delegates gathered for a day-long training session to learn more about music and music education’s impact on local communities, as well as the importance of Title I, Title II and Title IV funding for music education. Also during the Briefing Day, delegates took in a keynote speech from Representative Maxwell Frost (FL-10) who shared the impact music education has had on his career, including becoming the youngest member of Congress and the first of his generation (Gen Z) to hold a seat in the House.
Finally, on Nov. 15, more than 80 NAMM delegates took to Capitol Hill for Hill Day, which yielded some 140 meetings with members of Congress and their staffers on the importance of funding for music education.
“The NAMM D.C. Fly In was a huge success with the influence of our message to our elected officials from the collective impact of our NAMM members and partners,” said John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO. “Congressional representatives from both parties heard loud and clear about the benefits of music education and the necessity of ESSA funding to support music programs.”
For full coverage on the event, check out our forthcoming January 2024 issue, out Dec. 19.
