As students step on campus, they all strive to make a difference, form a meaningful connection, and find like-minded individuals. Devoted Wolverines join together and constantly pour themselves into organizations and various issues they are passionate about. Some organizations are up-and-coming; they realize there’s a deficiency of something they care about and start a foundation for something powerful. Others are already established, but they strive for further involvement, larger growth, and a greater impact.
As an organization moving into its ninth year on campus, MUSIC Matters aspires to help both new and existing clubs. We do this using our CoMMunity Partnership Social Venture which utilizes thoughtful collaboration and a financial grant to help another student org reach their goals. This year, MUSIC Matters has selected two art-based organizations to join forces with: Impact Arts and South Asian Awareness Network (SAAN).
“We are really excited to work with two organizations whose missions align so closely with ours,” explained Head of Social Ventures Lucie Rosenthal. “We have never partnered with art-based organizations before so we are looking forward to discovering all of the opportunities that arise from that.”
Each year, the CoMMunity Partnership provides support to an organization or two on campus, and this year both Impact Arts and SAAN are devoted towards using music and the arts to promote social justice and the importance of diversity.
Impact Arts is a new organization to the University of Michigan community, and they aim to use theatrical storytelling to engage with relevant societal ideas and issues. For their inaugural season, Impact Arts plans to focus on the Immigrant Experience and shine a light on the importance of diversity in our country. “Impact Arts is grateful and excited to be kicking off its inaugural season in partnership with MUSIC Matters,” expressed founder Christian Kassab. As a sophomore in the Ross School of Business, Christian hopes the club will showcase the ability arts has “to challenge our beliefs, showcase diverse communities, and create an impact on our campus and beyond.”
The other organization that MUSIC Matters is partnering with is SAAN; a group of students devoted to creating spaces that engage and educate students on social justice issues through the South Asian lens. SAAN accomplishes this mission by hosting events that stimulate dialogue and enrich experiences. Most notably, SAAN organizes an annual South Asian student conference that provides attendees the opportunity to listen to quality speakers and collaborate with other students. MUSIC Matters’ partnership with SAAN will encourage a platform for showcasing diversity through a multicultural blend of music.
Last year, MUSIC Matter had a successful collaboration with both Heal-Move-Shift and Michigan Movement, and we cannot wait to add our two new organizations which align so closely with our mission to our partnership roster. As we dive into the year, we look forward to uncovering the opportunities that can arise from our joint efforts with Impact Arts and SAAN. MUSIC Matters has been quintessential in promoting social change through MUSIC, and we aspire to serve as a catalyst and platform for other organizations to showcase their passions.