[Fort Lauderdale, FL] On April 8, 2010, the Broward County Board of Commissioners approved Women in Jazz South Florida, Inc. for its first Broward Cultural Council grant ($4,300) to fund COMMUNITY MUSICWOMEN, a program that will take place during the month of May:

1. Business of Music Panel Discussion with professional musicians, performing arts students and adults on Saturday, May 8, 2010 @ 12 Noon to 4 p.m. at ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale , FL. This is a one-day seminar with three panels to discuss the details of the business of music, including, original compositions, copyright registration, recording contracts, distribution, booking, touring and mechanical licenses (payment for using the music of others and how royalties are paid). Also discussed will be event planning, publicity, promotion and marketing.

2. JAMAICA HILL JAZZ JAM on Saturday, May 15, 2010 @ 5 to 9 p.m. onstage, in front of the RICE BOWL, 4080 N.W. 12th Street , Lauderhill , FL. This event is also sponsored by the City of Lauderhill and the Lauderhill Regional Chamber of Commerce. Corporate sponsors include Massive Motorsport.

3. Sing-Along on Friday, May 21, 2010 @ 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. at the Daniel D. Cantor Senior Center, 5000 Nob Hill Road, Sunrise, FL. Seniors revisit music from their youth from the great composers of our time like George Gershwin, Edward Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Cole Porter, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Count Basie, Johnny Mercer, Hoagie Carmichael and Fats Waller.

4. School Assembly at Walker Elementary School of the Performing Arts, 1001 NW 4th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, on Wednesday, May 19 and 26, 2010 @ 10 a.m. School Assembly at Parkway Middle School of the Performing Arts, 3600 NW 5th Court, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, on Tuesday, May 11 and 18, 2010 @ 10 a.m. At each school, musicians will provide two 1-hour sessions, mentoring girls with behavioral or achievement challenges for the purpose of instilling the importance of self-esteem and self-discipline in the music industry. They will explore performance goals, career vision and details of the business of music with the intention of sharing with troubled students the possibilities of being a musician and performer.

Founded in 2007, by Jazz vocalist, composer, historian and author Joan Cartwright, the mission of the organization is to promote Women in Jazz, locally, nationally and globally, through contacts, articles, interviews, newsletters, events, courses, clinics, workshops, lectures, research, history, archives, websites, film, audio and video recording, concerts, performances and recognition.

In February, Cartwright was the guest performer at the U.S. Embassy Blues on the Green concert in Kingston , Jamaica , where she appeared on two morning television shows, three radio shows and visited two primary schools that are recipients of 48 of Cartwright’s books donated by the Embassy. The books are Amazing Musicwomen, Songs For My Children and So, You Want To Be A Singer? As part of this grant, these three titles will be donated to the media centers of Walker Elementary and Parkway Middle. 

Funding for this project is provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council.