Community Impact – Surge: Impact in the Time of Adversity

In the Community Impact webinar series, music teachers across the world gather to create, refine, and celebrate projects that positively impact communities and advance piano teaching. In this year’s inaugural session, host Leah Claiborne invited internationally recognized leader Stanford Thompson to share his thoughts on the theme “Impact in the Time of Adversity.” 

Thompson is the founder and executive director of Equity Arc, an organization that seeks to expand access to professional pathways for exceptional classical musicians of color who have been historically excluded. Earlier this year, executive orders related to DEI cancelled a planned project that involved bringing a group of students to Washington, D.C. in collaboration with the U.S. Marine Band for mentorship and training over a period of several days. When appeals were unsuccessful, Thompson and his team chose to host an event for these students anyway—within weeks instead of months. Students, parents, and professional musicians from across the country met in D.C. for a concert that was ultimately featured on CBS’s show 60 Minutes. 

Thompson shared some of his team’s reasoning for continuing the project, even without the participation of the U.S. Marine Band: 

“The instinct could have been to shrink back, to wait until the storm passes…. I reminded our team of our mission, and that it’s always been about visibility and dignity and excellence for young musicians of color, and these are values that don’t go away when times get tough. To retreat would send the wrong message.” 

A portion of the 60 Minutes video report, shown during the session, included powerful statements from high school students who participated in the concert: 

“One thing that unites us all is this music. I’m here because I love it. No other reason than all these amazing, talented people, and I don’t want this to be taken away from anybody because of someone else’s personal opinion or just anything else besides why we like to do this.” – Sean Muzon, Atlanta, Georgia¹

“We worked hard to be here. We belong here. We have the talent to be here. And this is not just for us, but for children. And just people in the same situation that we are, that nobody can tell you what to do. You know, if you put your mind to something that you can accomplish that.” – Vanessa Cabrera, Rockaway, New Jersey²

“I just want the world to be a better place, but it seems like we’re slowly straying away from that, and we got to make a change. And I believe everyone here is capable of doing that, but are we going to do it?” – Ricardo Lazaro, San Antonio, Texas³

Thompson concluded by encouraging attendees to move forward with their community impact projects with conviction and determination. “Your ability to create projects that respond directly to your community needs is a unique freedom,” he said. “Bold projects rarely start in a safe environment. They grow because somebody believed the work was too important not to try.”

In future Community Impact sessions, attendees will continue to refine their own community projects in a supportive and collaborative environment. Wherever you are in the creative process—or if you simply want to learn from your colleagues—you are invited to join us! 

Learn more and register for an upcoming Community Impact session here. 

Notes

1. 60 Minutes, “U.S. Marine Band forced to cancel concert with students of color after Trump DEI order,” posted March 16, 2025, by 60 Minutes, YouTube, 13 mins, 27 seconds, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhwS06U1SnA.
2. 60 Minutes, “U.S. Marine Band forced to cancel concert with students of color after Trump DEI order,” posted March 16, 2025, by 60 Minutes, YouTube, 13 mins, 27 seconds, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhwS06U1SnA.
3. 60 Minutes, “U.S. Marine Band forced to cancel concert with students of color after Trump DEI order,” posted March 16, 2025, by 60 Minutes, YouTube, 13 mins, 27 seconds, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhwS06U1SnA.