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About Us

We've got a big vision: To make the world a better place through music

We are revolutionizing the role that musicians play in social change...

Beyond a single anthem, benefit concert or rally, music’s true power for change lies in the hands of those who create it.

While the challenges of our communities are daunting, Music to Life knows how to find and support these musical visionaries: artists who are dedicated to helping people and the planet through their work on civil and human rights, climate change, poverty and health. We help them enhance their outreach, deepen their community organizing skills, and build effective music-driven programming.

Working together, we can develop a vast network of skilled musician change agents around the country that can galvanize, heal, unify and revitalize our communities. We invite you to learn more...and join us!

What do Musician Changemakers Need?

Skills Training
80%
Mentorship & Networking
75%
Monetary Support
100%

We are uniquely positioned

Music to Life has collaborated for years with a broad network of artists, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and music industry leaders to explore how music can deliver positive, measurable social change.  We know what we're doing...

Seasoned & Field-Tested
We build upon the strong historical legacy of music-driven movements, and decades of producing, programming and research in the field of arts & social justice

Responsive & Resourceful
We are a virtual organization, tapping talent from around the country and pivoting to meet immediate needs and opportunities 

Entrepreneurial & Innovative
We believe that musicians have a valued and vital creative role to play in healing and revitalizing our communities

Diverse & Representative
We engage with a diverse roster of contemporary social change artists around the country who are tackling a broad range of issues

Leading the Team

Mobilizing our nation's musicians into an army of changemakers requires an incredible team. We’re grateful to have creative, skilled and committed leaders guiding our organization.

CO-FOUNDERS

Liz Stookey Sunde & Noel Paul Stookey

A cultural icon for the political and protest movements of the 60’s, Noel Paul Stookey (of the folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary) and his enterprising daughter, Liz, carry the organization's vision together.

For more than a decade, Liz & Noel Paul have explored the landscape of music and social justice, asking how music might become a more strategic tool for social change. To test the waters, the father/daughter pair recruited a diverse, cross-functional national team, producing social justice songwriting contests, multimedia programs, educational panels, conference sessions and commemorative events.

The answer to their question?  Music isn't the tool for change...the artists are.

Meet Liz!  |  Meet Noel Paul!  |  Our History

Staff and Consultants

Music to Life is a virtual organization with a lean staff, highly engaged board, and skilled contractors from around the country.

Liz Stookey Sunde
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Verónica Pérez-Picasso
Director of Programs
programs@musictolife.org
Camryn Wells
Development Director
devdirector@musictolife.org
Sarah Morge
Operations & Special Projects Manager
team@musictolife.org
Kyra Shaughnessy
Artist Liaison
artists@musictolife.org
Elyza Wylder
Communications & Social Media Manager
media@musictolife.org
Jenifer Simon
Special Projects & Artist Coach
Leti Bueno
Special Projects & Artist Coach

Board

David Altschul
Partner, Altschul Olin & Vandergast, LLP
Jeff Birdsong
Attorney, Liskow & Lewis
Nancy Buffington
Principal, Communications Trainer/Coach
Andrew Casillas
Attorney, Oracle America, Inc.
Belinda Chiu
Founder, Hummingbird Research, Coaching & Consulting
Richard Choi
Global Marketing Consultant
Karen Hudson
Marketing & Strategy Consultant
Kamica King
Artist, Graduate, Musician Changemaker Accelerator
Deana McCloud
Owner/Partner, Museum Collective
Amanda Pascali
Artist & Graduate, Musician Changemaker Accelerator
Edward Sawicki
Owner, Sawicki Consulting
Ruth Scheer
Former Director, Cabot Family Charitable Trust
Lara Shen Hejtmanek
Director, Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center
Peri Smilow
Artist; Executive Director Shards of Light Foundation
Noel “Paul” Stookey
Artist; Co-Founder, Music to Life
Elizabeth Stookey Sunde
Co-Founder and Exec Director, Music to Life
Adrianne Waddell
Associate, Holland & Knight LLP

Advisors

Jan D’Alessandro
President and Founder, Blue J Strategies
Robyn Brady Ince, Ed.M.
Executive Director, Newark City of Learning Collaborative
Ralph Jaccodine
Assistant Professor, Berklee College of Music; President, Ralph Jaccodine Management
Colleen McDonough
Executive Director, ASCAP Foundation
Kevin Merritt
Producer and Writer, One Foot Productions
Diana D. Northrop
Fundraising Consultant
Joseph Pineda
Founder, JRNE Artist Management
E.W. Stetson III
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center
Ken Sunshine
Founder and Co-CEO, Sunshine Sachs
Keith Wheeler
Sustainability Strategist

Ken Kragen (In Memorium)
Organizer, We Are The World and Hands Across America; Recipient, United Nations Peace Medal

Artist Advisors

Ysaÿe Barnwell

Paul Beaubrun

Judy Collins

Reggie Harris

Diana Jones

Tom Paxton

Jasiri X 

Peter Yarrow

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Artist Changemakers

The artists we work with are talented, socially conscious musicians and educators across genres, styles and generations.  They work with us to build their entrepreneurial skills as change agents, mentor next generation artists, identify and secure funding and promotional opportunities, and collaborate on music-driven social change projects.

If you're an established or emerging artist with a passion for an issue, interest in networking with like-minded peers and advancing positive change in your community, we invite you to apply to join our juried artist list.  You'll be connected with performance, program, mentorship and other opportunities to amplify your efforts.

Applications are reviewed on a regular basis by the Music to Life Team and can be accessed here.

Family of Artists