Effective advocacy begins with visibility. This session will equip music educators with practical strategies to increase community awareness and support for their school music programs. Learn how to engage your ensemble in meaningful community events, invite local leaders into your music spaces, and create advocacy opportunities that speak to diverse audiences. We will also cover how to cultivate school board members as advocates for music education and how to communicate with state and local officials to sustain arts funding. Attendees will leave with examples and actionable tools to strengthen their program’s presence and impact at both the local and state level. Collegiate NAfME members who represented Michigan in the 2025 NAfME Hill Day will share their insights from interactions with legislators in support of music education.