Affinity Groups

Do you have passion for a topic and want to start and lead an Affinity Group that shares your passion? Contact Stacey Peasley for help getting started!

Library Affinity Group
Evalyn Harper, Coordinator

The Library Affinity Group is open to everyone who is interested in libraries as a space for children’s and community programming. Topics for discussion may include the role of music in library programs, building relationships between artists and libraries, and current issues in the world of librarianship. 

We meet the first Monday of each month and the second Monday in July and September where holidays conflict.

Puppetry Group
Val Smalkin, Coordinator

Already using puppets, always wanted to add puppetry to your repertoire. You are welcome!!  Register here and join this  gathering of children's performers who already use or want to use puppets in their programs.

We meet monthly, on the 4th Sunday of the month.

Early Childhood Group
Mr. Elephant & Marty Long, Coordinators

Interested in music and activities for children under 7 years old? Are you a teacher, librarian, performer, songwriter or parent? The first month of each quarter is a Songswap where attendees share songs and activities for early childhood audiences. The third month of each quarter is a social gathering/connection time. All songswaps and social connection sessions are offered at no charge.

This group normally meets the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm CT, and is open to CMNers and non-members 

White Awareness, Accountability and Antiracism Group
Brian Caselli Jordan & Noam Brown, Co-facilitators

We're a group of white children’s music makers working to heal racism who meet the first Wednesday of each month to:

• talk about the role of race in our lives and the world around us in the present, and historically
• practice the ways we will talk about race and justice with children
• build our skills for engaging and interrupting when racial incidents occur and practice, practice, practice
• brainstorm how we can use our music and access to heal racism
• support one another as we strive to share access, resources and build equitable, loving community of solidarity with our colleagues of color as white folks making children's music.

Be The Change Action Task Force
Cindy Haws, Facilitator

The “Be The Change” Action Task Force moderated by Cynthia Haws is continuing to equip and empower people to “be the change” and work towards creating goals and taking action steps to dismantle racism in community, entertainment, and children’s music. We have committees that will be addressing Venues, Radio-play, Education and the Environment.

We meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm ET online. This group is open to current CMNers and non-members.

Songwriting Critique
David Heitler-Klevans & Monty Harper, Co-Facilitators

Bring a song-in-progress and get constructive feedback and ideas for improvement from other CMN songwriters (and give feedback to others in turn). Songs can be at any stage in the writing process, but should not be 100% finished and polished. We will use a process adapted from a couple of Philadelphia area songwriting groups. This AG will motivate us to write more songs, and help us to raise the quality of our songs for children & families.

We meet the 2nd Thursday of each month, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm ET online.

HipHop
SaulPaul, Facilitator

HipHop is happening -- Join Us!

We meet on the last Monday of the month.