JEN was formed in 2008 to help bring together the jazz arts community. JEN offers many educational programs, events, and workshops online, and hosts an annual conference with concerts presented by students and professionals, a student jazz festival, workshops, research presentations and an exhibition area with manufacturers, retailers, schools and other jazz related organizations. JEN also offers many programs, from a Community Engagement  program, to mentoring and scholarships. The Strategic Plan that follows is a “living document” that, beginning in 2021, will serve to guide and inform the organization’s operational structure and ongoing activities over a three-year period, through 2024.

The Jazz Education Network is dedicated to building the jazz arts community by advancing education, promoting performance and developing new audiences.

JEN advocates for the advancement of jazz as an art form and the inclusion of jazz pedagogy in all educational settings and in jazz artistry and business;

Promote jazz performance on a local and global basis; and

Lead the development of new and expanded jazz audiences worldwide.

JEN is a community where inquiry, exploration and innovation are nurtured and encouraged to grow through education.  JEN is committed to representing and cultivating diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of its operation including staff, board members, volunteers, presenters, clinicians, performers, and audiences.
This commitment is present in all programs and decision making.
We welcome and respect all backgrounds that reflect love and passion for jazz.

Goal​ ​#1.1: ​Develop and support educational programs to benefit membership

Tactics:​ ​​ 

Promote and advance work of all committees

 Parties​ ​Responsible:​ ​​Committee Chairs

 Timeframe:​​  Ongoing

 Progress:​ ​​In​ ​progress

Goal​ ​#1.2: ​Expand ​Area​ ​Networks and Educational Units

Tactics:​ ​​ 

Articulate ​structure,​ ​governance,​ ​training,​ ​and​ ​ administration​ ​for​ ​​Units.

 Parties​ ​Responsible:​ ​​Membership​ ​Director

 Timeframe:​​  Provided by Membership Director

 Progress:​ ​​In​ ​progress

Goal #1.3: Present an Annual JEN Conference and continue to develop its scope and reach

Tactics: 

Select from the best available resources and individuals for presentation at JEN conferences, to identify and share  “best practices” for teaching, performing, research and sharing jazz at all levels. Conference Review Committees will evaluate and identify specific needs, seeking a balance of sessions for different areas at the JEN Conference. Continue to support and evaluate educational programs such as the JENerations jazz Festival, Community Engagement, Awards/Scholarships, etc.

 Parties Responsible: JEN Conference Committee, Community Engagement

 Timeframe: As Required

 Progress: Ongoing

Goal #2.1: Enhance professional development for JEN members though an increased number of       opportunities, including JEN Journal, and JEN Research Journal

Tactics: 

Develop and implement a program of professional development offerings and materials for JEN members, in support of comprehensive jazz programs in schools, colleges and communities,  at all performance levels.

Parties Responsible:  Education, Community Engagement, and Research Committees  

Timeframe: As required

Progress: Ongoing

Goal #2.2: Increase support of JEN Community Engagement Initiatives

 Tactics: 

Expand offerings through curriculum development/virtual offerings, fundraising and collaboration.

Parties Responsible: JEN Community Engagement/JAZZ 2U Committee

Timeframe: As required

Progress: Ongoing

Goal​ ​#2.3: ​Develop and ​Expand ​Online Programming 

Tactics:​ ​​ TBD

 Parties​ ​Responsible:​ ​​Office Staff/Executive Committee

 Timeframe:​​  TBD

 Progress:​ ​​TBD

Goal #3.1: Enhance recruitment and retention of membership from underrepresented populations.

Tactics:  

Collect and analyze data from JEN membership via the membership portal; raise awareness of JEN membership benefits through marketing appeals; create and support JEN programs at a state and local level; provide professional development opportunities. 

 Parties Responsible: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

 Timeframe: As required

 Progress: Ongoing

Goal #3.2: Create and maintain an environment where all members of the JEN community feel respected, supported, valued, and feel they have agency and voice.  

 Tactics:

Adopt the We Have Voice Code of Conduct; collect feedback from members of the JEN community; provide sessions for open dialogue through a variety of sources; create and disseminate programming; create an annual meeting for all JEN members. 

 Parties Responsible: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

 Timeframe: As Required

 Progress: Ongoing

Goal #3.3: Provide clear, cohesive, and comprehensive communication regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion to the entire JEN community.

Tactics:  

Communicate DEI concepts through the JEN newsletter, social media accounts, and member portal; make all DEI statements accessible and understood on the JEN website, social media accounts, newsletter, and membership portal.

 Parties Responsible: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

 Timeframe: As required

 Progress: Ongoing

Goal #3.4: Develop standards for measuring progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. 

Tactics:  

Define DEI metrics JEN will monitor; create policies and procedures to measure DEI progress; establish baseline measurements using existing JEN data; set target goals for JEN DEI efforts; track and analyze results.

 Parties Responsible: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

 Timeframe: As required

 Progress: Ongoing

Goal #3.5: Provide diversity, equity, and inclusion resources and training to increase cultural competency and awareness for the entire JEN community.  

 Tactics:  

Hire an outside DEI consultant to provide input to JEN; develop a central diversity, equity, and inclusion education and training resource; provide professional development in diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the year.

 Parties Responsible: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

 Timeframe: As required

 Progress: Ongoing 

Goal #4.1: Review JEN’s organizational/governance and committee structure on an annual basis and update as required.

Tactics: 

Review organizational and governance structures annually, along with general policies and practices. Review Committee structure, policies and practices to ensure that all Committees are functioning properly and efficiently.

 Parties Responsible: JEN Finance Committee/Executive Committee/Board of Directors

 Timeframe: As required

 Progress: Ongoing

Goal #4.2: Continue to improve the process for election/selection of JEN Board Members, Officers and Committee Chairs

Tactics: 

Review processes for nomination. Recruit future board and committee chair candidates based on diversity and skill sets required for the sustainability of JEN. 

Parties Responsible: Nominating Committee 

Timeframe: : As required

Progress: Ongoing

Goal #4.3: Commit to the process of interacting with and gathering information from membership.

Tactics: 

Create, distribute and evaluate data gathered from interactive tools, surveys, etc.

Parties Responsible: JEN Office Staff/Executive Committee 

 Timeframe: As required

 Progress: Ongoing  

Goal #5.1:​ ​Ensure​ ​that​ ​financial​ ​procedures​ ​are​ ​transparent,​ ​clearly​ ​defined​ ​and​ ​operating efficiently

Tactics:​ ​​

Review​ ​and​ ​update​ ​financial​ ​reporting​ ​policies​ ​and​ ​procedures​ ​on​ ​an​ ​annual​ ​basis or​ ​as​ ​needed​ ​and​ ​post​ ​up​ ​to​ ​date​ ​financial​ ​information​ ​on​ ​the​ ​JEN​ ​website.

 Parties​ ​Responsible:​​ ​Finance​ ​Committee

 Timeframe: As required

 Progress:​​ ​ Ongoing

Goal​ ​#5.2:​ ​Budget​ ​accurately​ ​for​ ​JEN’s​ ​short​ ​term​ ​and​ ​longer​ ​term​ ​financial​ ​needs

Tactics:​ ​​

Define​ ​programs,​ ​services​ ​and​ ​operational​ ​needs.​ ​Develop​ ​and​ ​implement procedures​ ​for​ ​determining​ ​current​ ​needs​ ​and​ ​forecasting​ ​future​ ​financial​ ​requirements, including​ ​full​ ​and​ ​part-time​ ​staff​ ​and​ ​the​ ​development​ ​of​ ​permanent​ ​assets. Review​ ​revenue​ ​sources,​ ​including​ ​the​ ​JEN​ ​dues​ ​structure,​ ​on​ ​an​ ​annual​ ​basis​ ​and​ ​adjust​ ​as appropriate​ ​to​ ​organizational​ ​needs.

 Parties​ ​Responsible:​ ​​​Finance​ ​​and​ Development​ ​Committees

 Timeframe:​ ​​ As required

 Progress:​ ​​Ongoing

Goal​ ​#5.3:​ ​Invest​ ​JEN ​funds​ ​prudently

Tactics:​ ​​

Develop​ ​appropriate​ ​reserves​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​continuity​ ​of​ ​the​ ​organization’s​ ​programs and​ ​create​ ​a​ ​prudent​ ​Investment​ ​Policy​ ​for​ ​approval​ ​by​ ​the​ ​JEN​ ​Board

 Parties​ ​Responsible:​​ ​Finance​ ​Committee​ ​and​ ​Outside​ ​Financial​ ​Consultant

Timeframe:​​ ​ As required

Progress:​​ Ongoing

 Goal​ ​#5.4:​ ​Ensure​ ​proper​ ​management​ ​of​ ​risk​ ​to​ ​JEN,​ ​across​ ​the​ ​organization 

Tactics:​​ ​

Employ ​JEN​ ​Risk​ ​Management​ ​Strategy​ ​to​ ​appropriately​ ​manage​ ​risk​ ​across​ ​all aspects​ ​of​ ​JEN’s​ ​operations.

 Parties​ ​Responsible:​ ​​Finance​ and Audit and Risk Committee​ ​

 Timeframe:​​ ​ As required

 Progress:​ ​​ Ongoing

Goal​ ​#5.5:​ ​Develop​ and implement ​a​ ​Fundraising​ ​and​ ​Development​ ​program

Tactics:​ ​​

Pursue​ ​various​ ​areas​ ​of​ ​support,​ ​including​ ​foundations​ ​and​ ​public​ ​grants, individual​ ​donors,​ ​annual​ ​giving​ ​program,​ ​corporate/institutional​ ​support,​ ​bequests​ ​and memorials,​ ​and​ ​additional​ ​projects​ ​and​ ​events​ ​to​ ​raise​ ​funds.​

 Parties​ ​Responsible:​ ​​Development​ ​Committee

 Timeframe:​​ ​ As required

 Progress:​​ ​ Ongoing