MISSION AND GOALS
Hiawatha Music Co-op Mission Statement
The Hiawatha Music Non-Profit Corporation (HMC) is organized exclusively to provide and promote traditional music and dance, educate and inform society on traditional American music and encourage the appreciation of such music through the facility of an annual traditional music festival.
All operations are exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, and for the promotion of social welfare.
For annual reports, please email us at: hiawathamc@gmail.com
Hiawatha Non-Discrimination Statement
Believing that diversity enriches our appreciation of the world we live in, and recognizing that music is a unifying and healing force that brings people of all backgrounds together, HMC welcomes staff, volunteers, and audiences without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, weight, height, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, martial status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. HMC is committed to making its festival and programming accessible to persons with disabilities, strives to be inclusive in programming, and works to be representative of the diverse communities we serve.
Hiawatha Chooses Socially Responsible Investments
The Board of Directors for Hiawatha Traditional Music Co-op, seeking to align our investments with the Co-op's core values, have switched our investment portfolio to exclusively socially responsible investments or a “SRI” portfolio. We have been with Bell Financial for many years now who fortunately manages SRI portfolios so the switch was seamless. SRI investments are defined differently by every institution but generally follow similar screening practices for their investments. An investment that is considered socially responsible because of the nature of the business the company conducts. Common themes for socially responsible investments include avoiding investment in companies that produce or sell addictive substances (like alcohol, gambling and tobacco) and seeking out companies engaged in social justice, environmental sustainability and alternative energy/clean technology efforts. Socially responsible investments can be made in individual companies or through a socially conscious mutual fund or exchange-traded fund. We at Hiawatha are currently investing over half of our portfolio with the Calvert and Pax mutual funds.
Music has the power to unite us and give people a voice, and we honor the Black musicians who in large part created and contributed to the heritage of American traditional music. As a community and world, it is time to listen, learn, reflect, and act with compassion and kindness. It is time to lend our ears to truly listening and valuing the musical expressions of diverse cultures and the musicians who are the culture bearers.
The Hiawatha Music Co-op feels it is our responsibility as active members of our community to acknowledge and reflect on how we can join the conversation and take action against all forms of racism and other social injustices through education and music.
Buffalo Nichols - Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival 2023
Shown here on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert from 2022
Dom Flemons - Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival 2022
Sumkali - Hiawatha Traditional Festival 2019
Lakota John and Kin - Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival 2018
Sones de Mexico Ensemble - Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival 2017
Shown here at the Old Town School of Folk Music 2/21/2015
Guy Davis - Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival 2016
THE EBONY HILLBILLIES - Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival 2011
Shown here in NYC 2011
Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers - Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival 2015
Shown here at Paduca Kentucky Summer Festival
Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole - Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival 2010
Shown here at The Kennedy Center
Mamadou Diabate - Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival 2009
Jamanadiara Performance on Kora
Hiawatha has earned a Guidestar Rating of Silver