The ADEI Learning Lab was created for choral leaders who identify as occupying a position of privilege, and gaining a deeper understanding of how to leverage that privilege to be an agent of positive change in their choral organizations and the broader field. Chorus America specifically developed the Fall 2023 program to confront issues of race, racism, Whiteness, and White supremacy culture, and we’ve learned from past programs that an individual's racial identities and lived experiences impacts the type of support they need when engaging with ADEI work. Thus, we anticipate that this offering of the program is best suited to individuals who identify as White – though we acknowledge the nuances and complexities that these identities can involve.

For more details on the stated outcomes and content of the ADEI Learning Lab, visit our home page and Program page. If you are still feeling unsure of whether this program sounds right for you, we invite you to send your questions to us at [email protected].

Taking knowledge back to your organization and moving change forward after the program ends is hard on your own. From our own experiences and conversations with others, we've found that in order to sustain momentum that brings about real change, there need to be multiple leaders in positions of power to start and lead that change. And so we believe that your goals of realizing systemic change within your organization will be more likely to succeed if multiple colleagues attend this program.

Addressing ADEI is emotionally taxing work, and often becomes too heavy a burden to move forward when it falls on one person. A partner will provide crucial support and additional perspective as you both do the hard work to transfer the skills and knowledge gained in the Learning Lab to your colleagues, foster potentially difficult ADEI conversations in your organization, and ultimately implement changes and new practices. While multiple representatives from the same organization are not required, it is strongly encouraged by the faculty as the path that is likely to create the most effective outcome.

You can. This program is tailored for leaders who can immediately implement the knowledge and skills they gain, and we envision that it will be most effective for 2-3 leaders from one chorus who are in decision-making roles. However, if you are not currently affiliated with a chorus, or are not in a leadership position within a chorus, you will still gain new perspectives and tools in this course.

It's up to you. Each Learning Lab session is offered twice, and individuals from the same organization are not required to attend the same sessions. You may feel it’s important for you and your colleague to attend the same session -- or you may feel like the program will be most effective for you if you attend different sessions. Our faculty understand that every organization’s culture is different, and that coordinating schedules can be challenging. We encourage you to make the choice that is right for you and your organization.

Apologies, but no. Missing more than a few minutes of a live session will make it challenging to keep up, and will negatively impact the collaborative nature of the program. The Learning Lab is designed as an interactive cohort-based program. Practicing skills and developing knowledge together in a live environment are essential for participants to achieve the desired outcomes. The course is also sequenced so that each session builds on the concepts of previous sessions, so missing sessions early on can have a cumulative effect.

A typical week includes a 90-minute live session on Wednesday or Friday (you can attend on the day and time that works best for you), with about 2-3 hours per week of coursework between live sessions that you complete on your own time. Coursework between sessions includes instructional video content, selected readings, and an assignment or quiz. Completing homework assignments in advance of the live sessions is important to establishing a common space from which the lab conversations can begin and grow.

In 2023, Chorus America launched an intensive leadership development program for choral leaders who have been marginalized because of race and ethnicity called the Choral Executive Leadership Academy. This program helps early-to-mid career leaders who identify as BIPOC build the administrative skillsets that it takes to become C-suite leaders, and confronts ADEI topics that are related to the challenges of navigating and leading in predominantly White spaces. If you're interested learning more, visit the Choral Executive Leadership Academy website.

The ADEI Learning Lab is offered through a learning management system called Canvas. Participants will receive information about how to login and access the program the week before we begin. First time in an online learning course? Not to worry. Our staff is ready to help answer questions and help make sure everyone is comfortable using the system.

Please contact associate director of programs and membership, Karyn Castro, at [email protected]