The Angel Band Project

OUR MISSION

The Angel Band Project’s mission is to use the power of music to provide healing, raise awareness, and promote positive social change for survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence.

WHY THIS WORK IS VITAL

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 1 in 5 women in the U.S. will report being raped in their lifetime. Additionally, nearly 25% of men in the U.S. have experienced some sort of sexual violence. 

The National Coalition of Domestic Violence reports that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner. And according to the UN Women website, intimate partner violence is one of the most common forms of violence experienced by women globally.

OUR MISSION IN ACTION

MUSIC THERAPY—using music to heal

The Angel Band Project has been a pioneer in bringing life-affirming music therapy to survivors in crisis. In 2013, they developed and launched the country’s first music therapy program specifically designed to help survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence. 

Why music therapy? Music therapy is an evidence-based, recognized health profession in the U.S. Music therapy serves as a virtual bridge for a survivor, addressing emotions that are often difficult to articulate.  Music is deeply connected to memories, emotions, self-expression, and creativity. 

The Angel Band Project’s board-certified music therapists work in small group settings at partner organizations that include crisis counseling agencies, safe houses, and shelters. Over the course of eight weeks, clients work alongside a music therapist and other survivors to process their emotions through trauma-informed, therapeutic interventions. 

 To date, the Angel Band Project has provided music therapy to over 800 survivors, and their children, ranging in ages from 2 to 78 years at no cost to participants. This work happens in St. Louis, New York, and Seattle.

 In 2024, pilot workshops are rolling out in: Chicago, Kansas City, Orlando, Fort Collins, and Philadelphia. With additional funding, programming could continue to expand throughout the country, and eventually, across the globe.

RAISING AWARENESS

 While #MeToo was a watershed moment in raising awareness of the prevalence of sexual violence, there is still much work to do to eradicate the shame and isolation still experienced by many survivors. 

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

The Angel Band Project has been invited to deliver keynote addresses at colleges and universities, as well as government and social justice conferences across the world including; the Department of Justice Sexual Assault and Responder Training National Conference, the End Violence Against Women International Conference, and The World Music Therapy Congress in Pretoria, South Africa. 

MUSIC-BASED EVENTS

Musical performances bring our community together and act as introduction to these issues that is inviting, inspiring, and accessible. It’s advocacy and activism through the arts. The Angel Band Project has produced large-scale concert events as well as more intimate performances in Seattle, New York, and Saint Louis. Notably, the Angel Band Project was invited to perform at the United Nations as part of the UN Secretary General’s UNITE Campaign to End Violence Against Women and Girls.

HELP CHANGE A LIFE THROUGH MUSIC

Your gift will make a big difference in the life of a survivor, in the lives of their family, and in their community.  Help us move each person forward from victim, to survivor, to THRIVER.