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Community Affiliations & Partnerships

deepening the work together

What does it mean to be an Affiliate?

BMTN affiliates are committed to our mission and desire to engage in programs and offer directed monetary contributions to expand supports of Black communities. The funds raised go towards BMTN scholarships, community-based programs, and the continued work of the BMTN as we strive towards effective stewardship within the communities we serve. As a 501(c)(3), all sponsor donations are tax-deductible. Review sponsorship options below to see which one is right for you or your organization. 

Community Affiliates

Community affiliates are individuals, businesses, or organizations whose goals aligns with BMTN's mission. Sponsors offer directed monetary contributions of $200 or more to expand BMTN’s sphere of impact. General benefits for community sponsors include continuing education or other forms of targeted support such as:

  • Annual consultations with BMTN staff or community partners to deepen culturally sustaining practices within black communities (depending on Sponsorship level)

  • Access to culturally responsive resources for anti-oppressive practice, continuing education, and community-level work

  • Listing on the BMTN website acknowledging sponsorship. NOTE: sponsorship acknowledgement does not equal endorsement of that particular organization.

University Affiliates

University affiliates are music therapy academic programs dedicated to the mission of BMTN and seek to support organizational goals to transform music therapy practice through educational training and sponsorship. Universities committed to annual sponsorship of $1000 or more receive anti-oppressive practice workshops for their music therapy faculty and supervisors (in person options exist for higher tiers), Black student meet-ups (virtual only at this time), and faculty access to our Academic Resource Library (including sample syllabi). Additional anti-oppressive practice consultation and faculty group supervision that supports quality care are also available upon request. Sponsorship proceeds support sustainability of BMTN scholarships and continued community programming and support. Universities interested in sponsorphorship can complete this application to declare interest and learn more about this process. Currently accepting applications for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic year with meetings and offerings available by May 2023.

 

Tier 1: $ 500

  • Two Black student meet-ups provided annually (virtual only at this time)

  • Access to Academic Resource Library (including sample syllabi and other resources)

Tier 2: $1000 

  • Two Black student meet-ups provided annually (virtual only at this time)

  • Access to Academic Resource Library (including sample syllabi and other resources)

  • Annual VIRTUAL anti-oppressive practice workshop (2 hour) facilitated by BMTN Staff or partners

 

Tier 3: $2000

  • Two Black student meet-ups provided annually (virtual only at this time)

  • Access to Academic Resource Library (including sample syllabi and other resources)

  • Annual IN PERSON anti-oppressive practice workshop facilitated by BMTN Staff or community partners

 

Tier 4: $4000 (base)

  • Two Black student meet-ups provided annually (virtual only at this time)

  • Access to Academic Resource Library (including sample syllabi and other resources)

  • Annual IN PERSON anti-oppressive practice workshop facilitated by BMTN Staff or community partners

  • Program/Departmental Consultation to discuss anti-oppressive aims and culturally-sustaining curriculum development

 

* Pedagogical assessment, evaluation, and design are available upon request 

* Additional anti-oppressive practice faculty group supervision that supports quality care are available upon request

What does it mean to be a Community Partner?

Community Partners are organizations that BMTN has developed careful relationships with over time. As these relationships develop and deepen, we identify shared areas of focus and support each other through amplification of our projects and goals, and through fiscal sponsorship of grants and/or special projects/events as deemed appropriate.

 

What sorts of organizations make ideal Community Partners? We prioritize relationships with organizations that…

 

  1. Center community based, and culturally sustaining practices, supporting the liberation and freedom of Black people (these organizations need not be specific to the profession of Music Therapy);

  2. Provide programs and initiatives that amplify Black indigenous healing traditions and deepen the knowledge of music and/or health to support Black communities;

  3. Provide educational programs that address the holistic needs of Black practitioners at/near the intersection of music and health; 

  4. Influence structural, institutional, systemic, and relational change that affirms Black peoples' humanity; and 

  5. Supports Black peoples’ health and well-being through advocacy or needs-based initiatives providing continued access to music therapy services and education.

 

NOTE: Community Partnerships are separate from Community Sponsors, which are people or organizations who make recurring donations to BMTN and receive limited forms of support.

Sample Community Partnership: Black Creative Healing

Black Creative Healing is a Platform and Community Care Project dedicated to Radical Conversations, Mindful Collaborations, and Wholistic Visioning, Centering Black Communities. Originally conceptualized as a videoblog by BMTN Steering Committee member Natasha Thomas, the project has gone through several phases of development. From videoblog to BMTN Sponsored Podcast (co-hosted by Adenike Webb, also a BMTN Steering Committee Member), the project now serves as a multi-dimensional space for Community Care. The podcast and social media spaces provide regular and accessible online resources on everything from somatics to abolition (and beyond!). BCH now also curates a dedicated social space on Sutra, a community learning platform for members of the Black Creative Community to share their work, network with other creatives, and engage in opportunities for collective and self care. Since its earliest days BCH episodes have been amplified on BMTN social media and newsletters, and provided fiscal sponsorship to BCH in grant applications. In return, BCH has forwarded portions of proceeds from its podcast and Patreon subscribers, amplifying the work of BMTN through episode content and the use of BMTN’s name in promotional materials.

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In 2022, BCH began conceptualizing its first ever Community Retreat, and at this time conversations between the BCH co-facilitators and broader BMTN leadership began about how our mutual support for each other might shift and grow as well. At that time a Community Agreement document was drafted and now clearly distinguishes BMTN and BCH as separate, but intimately connected, entities; we work alongside each other to provide continued amplification of each others’ work, while each maintaining our own social media and organizational structures that operate distinctly from one another. Learn more about BCH at www.blackcreativehealing.com.

 

So, wanna become a partner with BMTN? Here’s what you need to do:

 

  1. Get to know us! Follow us on social media, if you don’t already. Attend our events and introduce yourself to our team members wherever/whenever you encounter us. Become familiar with the way we move and work.

  2. Reach out and let us know how you think our work might align! Our Community Partnerships team can be reached at communitypartnerships@blackmtnetwork.org.

  3. Be patient. Community Partnership development takes time. It may be that we are already familiar with your/your organization’s work, and we may proceed straight from your communication with us into a meeting to devise future possibilities. OR, we may need some time to share your proposal with our leadership boards/committees, and/or feel out the relationship with a few “trial” events. We move at the speed of trust.

So, want to become a partner with BMTN? Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Get to know us! Follow us on social media, if you don’t already. Attend our events and introduce yourself to our team members wherever/whenever you encounter us. Become familiar with the way we move and work.

  2. Reach out and let us know how you think our work might align! Our Community Partnerships team can be reached at partnerships@blackmtnetwork.org.

  3. Be patient. Community Partnership development takes time. It may be that we are already familiar with your/your organization’s work, and we may proceed straight from your communication with us into a meeting to devise future possibilities. OR, we may need some time to share your proposal with our leadership boards/committees, and/or feel out the relationship with a few “trial” events. We move at the speed of trust.

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