Classical Music IndyDirector (initally Senior Consultant)
May. 2013 - Apr. 2016Indianapolis, IndianaOriginally hired as a consultant, I was later offered the leadership position with this radio, music advocacy, and community activation organization based in Indianapolis. CMI creates afterschool programs for underserved youth, programs for isolated seniors, a community concert series for diverse intergenerational listeners, multi-cultural radio and podcast programs, and many other multicultural and diversity-themed projects. -----
"Charles came to CMI with a vision that shunned convention, embraced innovation, and pursued a fresh new approach to engaging diverse communities. CMI has quickly garnered attention from international thought-leaders as a valuable and respected engager and forward-thinking innovator. In 2013, Charles set out to make CMI the premier programmer of innovative community engagement in the arts as well as the top choice of radio stations seeking to create relevance for diverse listeners. In one year, this philosophy brought an increase from 30,000 listeners at Stanton's arrival to more than 150,000 listeners. The organization moved from an exclusively on-air focus in Indianapolis to serving five major markets with radio programs and podcasts, live concerts, after school programs, senior engagement programs, community activation projects and dialogues, and a magazine with more than 200,000 subscribers. The overall following for the organization has grown from 52,000 to more than 400,000 people annually with an aggressive plan to continue that trajectory. CMI’s service-focused programs hinge on innovation and meaningful engagement.
The vision is rooted in the idea that cultural activity and enrichment can and should elevate the greater community, foster a stronger sense of unified community pride, and encourage economic development."