The Justice Music Project

Last November, with the organization's 20th anniversary celebration behind them, Equip for Equality's two-person development team and CEO looked ahead to address a long-standing objective — increasing visibility for disability rights issues.

"At the heart of Equip for Equality's mission is 'advocacy,' a word with a brushstroke so broad that, alone, it fails to illustrate our exceptional, life-changing work," says Zena Naiditch, president and CEO of Equip for Equality. "Equip for Equality has stopped schools from locking children in closets; we've opened the world to thousands through accessible buses and trains; we have investigated and closed corrupt, abusive facilities and have empowered thousands of individuals and families once unable or afraid to speak up for themselves; we've even saved lives with legal intervention. All monumental feats. But our message often suffers our mission's breadth and depth. There is no single sentence, no ‘elevator speech,' that does justice to the justice we've achieved."

One of the populations that Equip for Equality has sought to reach is teens and young adults, a group whose idealism and energy could contribute to creating a more accessible, inclusive society for people with disabilities. To reach this segment, the development team launched the Justice Music Project (JMP), an initiative tapping into the collective efforts of musicians, venues and peer organizations.

Beginning in December, the team organized a campaign to solicit musicians of any genre to submit songs for a compilation CD. Through leaflets distributed to retail businesses and disability organizations throughout the state and via online strategies, including a page on the popular myspace.com (myspace.com/justicemusicproject), the Project drew the attention of hundreds of musicians from across the globe. JMP pages on Equip for Equality's website now attract more than 1,300 hits a month, making its online features some of the organization's most read information. From more than 200 songs submitted over a four-month period, a panel of music industry executives and venue owners selected 17 for the compilation CD. Featuring predominantly indie and folk musicians from the Chicago area, the CD also includes musicians from Bogota (Colombia), Georgia and California. The last track is an orchestral piece performed by attorneys from the Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra. The CD sleeve provides contact information for each band or solo musician and describes disability-rights issues and ways to become a disability-rights advocate.

Graphic rendering of the cover of the Justice Music Project CD "Though we did not require that submitting musicians claim a disability, the process attracted musicians with disabilities or those who had profound connections to disability issues," says Peter Grosz, Equip for Equality development director. "The community we are building from this project is truly inclusive and energized. Every week we hear from someone who wants to volunteer or from musicians, whether selected or not, who want to perform on behalf of our mission. Our only obstacle is booking accessible high- The Justice Music Project profile venues. If the project continues over several years, if the organization puts out more CDs and pursues other collaborations, I'm sure the momentum will make JMP a marquee opportunity for talented musicians and will draw more attention from sponsors and venues."

With two CD release concerts behind it (at Chicago's Goose Island Brewery and at Martyrs', a nationally renowned music venue), the Project is now looking to broaden its reach through CD sales and promotions. In addition to selling directly online and through retail outlets, such as record stores and coffee shops, the JMP team is looking for partnerships with peer organizations and healthcare providers, offering nonprofits revenue-sharing options to support their own disabilityrelated activities. The team also offers individuals with disabilities a starter set of CDs and promotional material to help them earn personal income from sales.

For more information on the Justice Music Project, how to purchase the JMP CD, and how to become a Project partner or volunteer, go to www.equipforequality.org/jmp or call Lisa at (312) 895-7306.

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