The CMA Foundation To Host Conversation With Special Guest Trisha Yearwood During National School Boards Association’s Advocacy Institute June 8

Country Music Superstar Trisha Yearwood to Join CMA Foundation President and CMA CEO Sarah Trahern to Discuss Importance of Music in Education  

The CMA Foundation is set to host a special online conversation Tuesday, June 8 during the annual National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) Advocacy Institute. The session will feature CMA Foundation President and CMA CEO Sarah Trahern, joined by Country Music superstar and best-selling author Trisha Yearwood to discuss the importance of music education.  

As one of the nation’s leading music education nonprofits, the CMA Foundation’s mission is to provide students with equitable access to music education and ensure music educators are provided the resources they need to create a thriving music program. Through its partnership with NSBA, CMA and the CMA Foundation continue to strategically raise awareness and shine a light on advocacy efforts in support of music educators, students and parents.    

The NSBA’s Advocacy Institute features key policy makers and advocates working to improve educational outcomes and ensure that every student has access to a quality education. In addition to Trahern and Yearwood, this year’s Advocacy Institute will feature U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, U.S. House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott and U.S. Senators Charles Grassley and Susan Collins. 

“My mom was a third-grade teacher, so I’ve always understood the importance of a good education,” says Yearwood. “She and my dad also encouraged me to participate in talent shows and music events held by my school, church, and community. It was that early exposure to music, along with support from my parents and friends, that made me into who I am. I’m an advocate for music education today because I want every child in our country to have the same opportunities I did.” 

“The CMA Foundation was birthed from the passion our artists and industry professionals felt when they first fell in love with music within the four walls of a classroom,” says Trahern. “Working with an artist like Trisha and incredible partners like NSBA, the CMA Foundation works to ensure that music is a part of every student’s education. For us, it’s not just about lifting up the next generation of musicians, but leveraging the impact that music has on students’ lives.” 

“In recent years, educators have shifted from an emphasis on STEM to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math),” said Anna Maria Chávez, Executive Director and CEO of NSBA. “During the pandemic, however, many students missed out on subjects like art and music that aren’t easily taught in remote learning environments. Trisha Yearwood is not only an extremely successful author and musician, but she is also a powerful advocate for keeping the arts in education and ensuring that all students are exposed to music early in their school careers.” 

More information on NSBA’s Advocacy Institute, including registration information, is available at https://nsba.org/Events/Advocacy-Institute.