Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rachel Ebeling. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rachel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’re complete cheeseballs and so we love asking folks to share the most heartwarming moment from their career – do you have a touching moment you can share with us?

Working in the nonprofit sector has facilitated many meaningful experiences for me. As the co-founder of an organization that provides music therapy to survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence, I have had the honor of meeting and becoming friends with many of those who have sought our services. One such person is my friend and colleague Erin. I knew Erin for several years prior to learning that she was a victim of sexual assault when she was in high school. She and I had children in the same grade school, and we saw one another frequently at carpool pickups and school events. However, years later Erin approached me about my work at The Angel Band Project. She shared with me her story, and wanted to volunteer with us to make a difference for other survivors. Erin is a visual artist as well as a talented singer. She had a vision of blending her artistic skills with her passion for making a difference. In 2013, she and her team of creatives designed “Aria Rising,” an interactive sculpture facilitating activism around the issue of sexual assault. In 2016, she participated in a therapeutic songwriting project called “Songs of Survival,” which allowed her to use her singing and songwriting talent. Later, in 2018, she traveled to New York City and performed with our organization at the United Nations headquarters during the 16 days of activism to end gender based violence. Erin has impacted thousands of people due to her compassion, empathy, and creative talents. It has been my pleasure to walk this journey with her as a friend and a conspirator for good.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

In 2009, I lost one of my best friends, Teresa Butz, to an unthinkable act of sexual violence. At that time, another friend, Jean Haegele, and I decided we needed to do something to honor Teresa’s life as well as support her partner, Jen, who was also severely injured in that attack. We found comfort the weeks following Teresa’s death through music. Music was a huge part of Teresa’s life as well as Jen’s, who is a conservatory-trained singer. So we created The Angel Band Project as a way to harness the power of music to make a difference. After recording a benefit album comprised of Teresa and Jen’s musical friends and family members, we decided to research music therapy as an intervention that could directly support survivors on their path to healing.

After piloting a music therapy program in St. Louis for one year, we found survivors were positively impacted and better able to manage their feelings and symptoms, which include PTSD, anxiety, fear, isolation, and shame. So we started raising funds to grow these programs at crisis counseling agencies, shelters, and safe houses in order to provide music therapy workshops at no cost to survivors. To this date, we have served over 700 survivors through our programs, and have expanded our work to Seattle and New York City. We hire board-certified music therapists who work through a trauma-informed approach to support these clients. Music therapy is designed to use music interventions that accomplish non-musical goals. It is an evidence-based health profession which is proven to support both physical and mental health.

We are grateful to our community members, donors, corporate sponsors, and friends who have supported us financially in order to continue to offer these programs at no cost to those who need this support.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

As the founder of a nonprofit organization, I believe that an entrepreneurial mindset is key to success. Entrepreneurs see a problem, identify a solution, and aren’t afraid to test new approaches to solves those problems. It helps to have positive people surrounding you in decisions that might go against the norm. I am grateful for the mentors and supporters who have said “yes” and allowed our organization the freedom to learn, chart new courses, and test new theories of change.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your firm or practice?

As a startup nonprofit, we literally had no money to begin with, only a vision. So we rallied some folks together to help us organize a fundraising event to raise seed money, and that event gave us not only the funds to get started, but also the people to help us move forward. Nonprofits thrive when they embrace the communities they serve and allow volunteers to get involved. Without dedication volunteers in those early years, we wouldn’t have been able to continue the work and grow our vision.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.angelbandproject.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theangelbandproject/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelBandProject
• Twitter: https://www.linkedin.com/company/angel-band-project/?viewAsMember=true
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUxxY2b4kEFk-0muoTZIZgg