The Global Leaders Institute announces a new partnership with The Angel Band Project, a non-profit organization based in St. Louis, Missouri, which sponsors music therapy programming for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence as part of their healing process. This initiative is co-founded and directed by 2023 GLI MBA in Arts Innovation graduate Rachel Ebeling, with whom the GLI is thrilled to welcome back as a mentor to 2024 Fellows. As components of the partnership, a team of 2024 GLI Fellows will be applying tools and frameworks from the GLI classroom to develop a Case Study profile of this organization.
GLI has met with Rachel Ebeling to discuss The Angel Band Project’s latest milestones and its opportunities and challenges moving forward.
1. Considering you’ve just graduated from the GLI MBA in Arts Innovation this year, how do you feel about having the 2024 Cohort working with The Angel Band Project for their initial Case Study assignment? What advice would you give Fellows moving forward?
I am grateful and honored that The Angel Band Project has been chosen as a Case Study organization for this new Cohort. Reflecting back on my own experience last year, I gained so much newfound knowledge in conducting research and interviewing lead stakeholders involved with Musical Connections, which was my team’s assigned Case Study organization. Working together to determine strategies and solutions to organizational challenges facilitated a better understanding of the climate surrounding arts-based entities that strive for excellence. I would advise current Fellows to be confident and ask many questions during the interview. And don’t be afraid to offer bold solutions because fresh ideas are necessary to solve difficult problems. The stakeholders want to foster a growth mindset as part of their commitment to GLI.
2. Can The Angel Band Project be considered Music Therapy? How can we make Music Therapy more accessible to people who might benefit from it?
At The Angel Band Project, we hire board-certified music therapists trained in trauma-informed approaches to provide services to those impacted by intimate partner violence or sexual trauma. Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an approach in which individuals and organizations realize, recognize, and respond to trauma’s vast prevalence and impact on an individual’s general functioning while actively resisting re-traumatization through safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, and empowerment. Music therapy can be a valuable tool in treating individuals with complex trauma. Music’s rhythmic and melodic elements can help regulate emotions and provide a sense of safety and containment. Additionally, creating or listening to music can stimulate the brain’s reward centers, promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety. Creative arts therapies are gaining traction in health care, particularly mental health settings. By offering holistic music therapy workshops at no cost to survivors as a creative way to express and process trauma, we are removing the financial barrier to participation.
3. The Angel Band Project assists victims and their families in songwriting and live music production. How does recording albums contribute to the social impact of The Angel Band Project?
By the end of 2023, we will have reached over 800 survivors and their children through our free music therapy programming. Therapeutic songwriting can foster creative expression and articulate painful experiences in an artistic manner. While most of our music therapy programs are held in confidential spaces without a “product” to display at the end of the workshop, we occasionally offer opportunities for clients to record original songs to be shared with the public. This elevates the survivor’s story and can create compassion and empathy amongst those who listen. To date, we have recorded four benefit albums, with a total of 45 songs that have been shared on both digital and physical media. We have held six public benefit concerts in St. Louis, Seattle, and New York City and were invited to perform at the United Nations Headquarters in 2018 as part of the UN Secretary General’s UNITE Campaign to End Violence Against Women and Girls as a way to show solidarity amongst survivors worldwide.
4. We’ve noticed a very interesting and recent collaboration with NYU’s Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy. Are collaborations the way to build The Angel Band Project into a nationwide initiative, or are there further expansion plans to look forward to?
Strategic alignment with institutions such as New York University has allowed us to scale operations and validate our organization’s integrity. What started 14 years ago as a grass-roots effort amongst two friends has become a nonprofit that will change lives in eight U.S. cities in 2024. As we establish our brand and presence in new cities, we can leverage our collaborations and partnerships to build relationships. We are also interested in replicating our program model in more cities – and more countries – as resources become available.
5. Do you ever imagine the future of The Angel Band Project beyond your personal leadership and contribution? What does The Angel Band Project need to acquire a life of its own?
I envision the future as one that will evolve into The Angel Band Project being recognized as a national nonprofit. We are on the cusp of demonstrating the value and potential of music therapy in treating trauma. With the right leadership, our mission will flourish beyond what we ever imagined. Dare to dream, take risks, and explore the opportunities ahead.
About Rachel Ebeling
Rachel Ebeling (GLI MBA 2023) is Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Angel Band Project, an organization which sponsors music therapy programming for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence as part of their healing process.
A lifelong lover of music, Rachel is responsible for day-to-day operations of the organization with a focus on growing The Angel Band Project into a meaningful force for healing and social change. Traveling the country, Rachel shares our story of providing hope and healing to survivors, while bringing our music therapy program to new cities and regions. She has been the keynote speaker at national conferences and was recently honored as a Woman of Achievement, honoring the efforts of volunteer women.
Sources:
https://www.angelbandproject.org/
https://townandstyle.com/reaching-out-rachel-ebeling/
https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/news/songs-survival-nordoff-robbins-partners-angel-band-project
