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October 2021 - E-Edition
Read Free Online at AlabamaLedger.com
Alabama Ledger
420,000 US Households Receive Rental Assistance In August 2021 State and local government grantees of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA) increased the number of households served to more than 420,000 in August, up from 340,000 in July. According to a press release from the US Department of Treasury, over $2.3 billion in rental assistance was distributed in August, which represents roughly three times the amount spent in May. Through August 31, state and local ERA programs have distributed more than 1.4 million payments to households, totaling more than $7.7 billion to support the housing stability of renters. The most recent Census Pulse survey suggests that approximately 3 million households expressed concern about imminent eviction. Of all these households, Census Pulse data also indicated that those with the lowest income are the most likely to be at risk of eviction. Of all households reporting that they are behind on rent, two-thirds of them earn less than $35,000 per year. Previous Treasury data has demonstrated that ERA funds are reaching these tenants, with more than 60 percent of households served having extremely low income (falling at or below 30 percent of area median income). When the Emergency Rental Assistance Program launched earlier this year, there was little state and local infrastructure to deliver emergency rental assistance, and most rental assistance grantees needed to start programs virtually from scratch. Nonetheless, many programs have proven an ability to accelerate aid effectively, with 119 state and local agencies having expended more than half of their first rental assistance funding allocation (ERA1). While US Treasury Department recognizes that many state and local governments faced a difficult task in building the assistance infrastructure needed to get ERA funds to eligible households quickly, the progress seen in recent months by a diverse range of states and localities covering different types of regions and populations shows that it can be done effectively. State and local governments have been increasing their spending as they have put in place the infrastructure to be able to serve the large numbers of eligible renters and landlords in their jurisdictions. One example in the press release was from the City of Nashville and Davidson County, which run a joint ERA program, This program spent 78% of its allocation at the end of August by rapidly increasing its distribution of funds over the summer. Spending in August was 130% more than spending in June, and they reported using Treasury’s recommended application flexibilities by allowing the use of self-attestation and direct payments to tenants. This allowed Nashville and Davidson County to move more applications through their system in July and August and they served more than four times as many households as in May and June.
Music director named quarterfinalist for the 2022 Music Educator Award
Dr. Matt Leder, music director and instructor at Gadsden State Community College, is one of 10 Alabama music educators to be selected as a quarterfinalist for the 2022 Music Educator Award presented by the Recording Academy and Grammy Music Foundation. “I’m incredibly honored to be recognized as a quarterfinalist by such prestigious organizations,” he said. “I love my job and I love what I do.” Leder is the only northeast Alabama educator to be selected as a quarterfinalist and the only instructor from a higher learning institution in the state. The Music Educator Award is open to current, full- time educators who teach music in American public or private schools – kindergarten through college. The purpose of the award program is to bring attention to the “excellent and impactful work” being done by music teachers in the U.S. Applications were accepted in March and were electronically scored and ranked. Each quarterfinalist has been asked to submit supplemental materials, such as videos, essays and testimonials. A Screening Committee will review supplemental materials and identify semi- finalists in October. A Blue Ribbon Committee will select 10 finalists and recommend one overall winner, who will be recognized during the 2022 Grammy Week activities. Being named a quarterfinalist isn’t Leder’s only recent accomplishment. He has been chosen as a jazz columnist for the Alabama Music Educators Association Journal, “Ala Breve.” He has also served as a jazz conductor and clinician at the Alabama All-State Jazz Band Festival, which was hosted by the Alabama Bandmasters Association in April in Birmingham. He was also selected to be a part of the College Music Fellows Program sponsored by the National Association of Music Merchants. All fellows were awarded a $1,000 stipend to support travel to attend Summer NAMM in Nashville in July. Fellows were selected based on their commitment and aptitude for developing curricula related to business leadership and innovation in the music products industry. “What an exciting opportunity for Dr. Leder and for Gadsden State,” said Mario Gallardo, division chair of Gadsden State’s Fine Arts Department. “The level of knowledge he gained from this program definitely benefited our music program. He gained additional expertise in developing curricula related to music products, production, administration, management and marketing as well as product creation and innovation.” The two-day event allowed attendees to discover the latest musical products, experience innovative education and training and unite with industry peers. “I received specialized programming, including sessions on the music industry, curricula and leadership development,” Leder said.
Dr. Matt Leder
“I also had the opportunity to be reunited with music industry colleagues and leaders.” Fellows were also special guests to the Top 100 Dealer Awards, which celebrates the achievements of music retailers around the world. “I’m certainly grateful for the many opportunities I have been given to grow in my profession,” he said. “It is so important to continue honing my skills and taking opportunities that allow me to perform and teach.” Leder earned his Doctor of Arts in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado; a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of New Orleans and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from East Carolina University. He is also a graduate of the Armed Forces School of Music in Little Rock, Va. Before coming to Gadsden State in 2014, Leder was director of music and assistant professor at Northern New Mexico College. He has also served as an adjunct faculty at the University of Colorado at Denver, South Piedmont Community College, Brown University, St. George’s School and the Community College of Rhode Island. In addition, he served eight years in the Navy Music Program and four years in the Air Force Music Program. In addition to performing at Carnegie Hall, Leder has performed at many jazz and trumpet festivals throughout the country, including the Southeast Trumpet Festival, the Billy Taylor Jazz Festival, the Rocky Mountain Trumpet Festival and the Brown University Jazz Festival. He has also performed at the Armed Forces Celebration in Sydney, Australia, and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. He is also the founder and producer of the Gadsden State Jazz Festival.
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