NYSSMA BEDR Initiative for Diversity and Inclusion

Belonging Equity Diversity Representation BEDR work for NYSSMA

NYSSMA Will Support: A sustained and robust process that reflects, analyzes, and enhances the various systems of the organization through a representative lens for the benefit of the populations we serve.

Goals Create a community of BELONGING which empowers all members and students to feel respected, valued, and equally included as they engage with the ongoing work of NYSSMA. Intentionally recruit diverse participants to the pipeline of NYSSMA at all levels of leadership - membership, adjudicators, county presidents, committee members, advisory council members, zone representatives Promote Diverse Composers, Conductors, and Clinicians Increase Student Performance Opportunities NAfME Equity Keystone: Develop pathways to leadership to advance the mission.

Goals Improved Representation in all areas inclusive of new ideas for classroom experiences, NYSSMA leadership, festivals and publications. Create avenues for feedback from the field: Analyze and apply survey results: members, non members, students Outreach to non-members provide with the goal of expanding NYSSMA s reach and service to teachers and students in New York. Create new opportunities for students by increasing pathways in our evaluation practices and procedures NAfME Equity Keystone: Develop a framework for understanding equity that guides, informs, and shapes decision-making processes.

Goals Equity in all aspects of the organization through reevaluation of traditions, reflection on short-comings, and growth in accountability, transparency, and access. Review in light of increasingly diverse population respecting the past work that has been the core of NYSSMA s strength as an organization. All NYSSMA committees go through self reflection activities NAfME Equity Keystone: Identify root causes of inequity and develop strategies to eliminate barriers to student opportunities.

Goals Diversified curricular and pedagogical practice that is responsive to the teacher and student population in all areas of the state Work with curriculum and classroom committees: recognizing that different regions of NYS will require different resources Work to define and increase diversity in repertoire: link to the Institute for Composer Diversity s databases and other relevant resources Review existing NYSSMA libraries for BEDR NAfME Equity Keystone: Assist members in providing diverse musical experiences for students.

Going Forward Diversity infused into the ongoing work of NYSSMA Engage Executive Council, use survey data from members and non members Pay attention to the pipeline for NYSSMA Build a shared understanding of diversity in repertoire in the classroom, in curriculum,on performance stages, and in our NYSSMA manual Collect thoughts and form guidelines to be utilized whenever repertoire is selected, and lists published