Our vision for 2021 was smiling faces, hugs, and harmonious singing with gusto. As Sylvester James Pussycat Sr. would say, “Not so fast, not so fast!” Sadly, we will not be able to do it this year. The in-person part in Chicago would have been masked, distanced, and uncertain at best. That’s not the experience we were all looking forward to!
So—we will gather together virtually in October! Building on our 2020 conference successes, we will offer the already-planned week of programming online from October 3 to 10. Though it can’t replace the in-person experience, the all-Zoom Conference will once again allow greater accessibility and more participation by those who couldn’t otherwise attend.
Here’s what you can expect. Times and offerings may be adjusted as we make the transition to an all-virtual conference. All times are central time!
We’ll kick off conference week on Sunday, October 3, getting to know each other and more about CMN. Stick around for the Virtual Round Robin! Anyone can get a three-minute slot to share a song, movement activity, or poem. Watch for September sign-ups!
Then from Monday through Thursday, there will be two workshops each day: at 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. CT on Zoom. The fabulous offerings include singing with Suni Paz and making queer-friendly music with Lindz Amer, plus song swaps, bilingual education, and more!
On Friday, October 8, we gather virtually at 7:00 CT to sing together, interact, and reconnect. At 7:30 Pierce Freelon will engage us in a Keynote Conversation.
Suni Paz
Lindz Amer
Stephanie Leavell
Jean Young
Flor Bromely
Joyce Rouse
Pierce Freelon
Saturday programming includes four Zoom workshops, when you can start your business plan with Matt Fernald, learn about diversity in STEM with Roy Moye, III, or brush up on your visual arts with Hamlet Meneses and Alina Celeste. Round out your day with Round Robin Part 2 and online Open Chats.
Sunday at 1:00 CT, we have the Award Ceremony, where we will present the Magic Penny Award for lifetime achievement to Daniel J. Henry Jr. and Jean N. Hendricks and honor our Pass It On! Scholars Kaylin White and Zachary Shand. More workshops will follow, rounded out by our Closing at 5:00.
Ann Torralba
Matt Fernald
Julie Be
Mara Sapon-Shevin
Roy Moye III
Sarah Marie Young
Alina Celeste & Hamlet Meneses
Susan Salidor
Kate Norregaard
Daniel Henry
Jean Hendricks
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Online registration is now open! All general sessions and workshops will be recorded and available to registered attendees post-conference. Check out the full conference schedule for a complete overview of the week.
Together tomorrow—together tomorrow my friend!
We’ll share all our stories when we get together
Together tomorrow again!
—Tom Chapin ©1988
See you in October!