[WASHINGTON, D.C.] May 14, 2026 — As part of her national service initiative centered on expanding access to arts education, Cassie Donegan recently joined leaders from across the music industry in Washington, D.C. for the annual Advocacy D.C. Fly-In hosted by the National Association of Music Merchants.
Representing the Miss America Organization alongside more than 100 NAMM members, educators, artists, and advocates, Cassie participated in meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to help champion federal support for music and arts education programs impacting millions of students across the country. Miss America served as a celebrity delegate in the dynamic group of industry representatives, alongside legendary drummer Queen Cora Coleman-Dunham.
Throughout the week, more than 200 meetings took place. Advocates emphasized the importance of ensuring music and arts remain a meaningful part of a well-rounded education, with a focus on increasing funding for federal programs including Title I, Title II, Title IV, Part A, and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Delegates met with congressional offices to discuss continued investment in educational initiatives that provide students with access to music instruction, creative opportunities, and arts-based learning experiences nationwide.
“Our members travel from across the country to share a unified message with lawmakers: Music education is vital to student success, workforce development and the cultural fabric of our expectations,” said John Mlynczak, NAMM President and CEO. “This consistent and persistent messaging that our NAMM members have delivered for the past 20 years is working, and we will continue to champion music education and industry trade for the benefit of every NAMM member around the world.”
For Miss America, the experience was a meaningful opportunity to use her platform to advocate for the transformative power of music education and the impact the arts can have on young people’s confidence, creativity, and future success.
In addition to meetings on Capitol Hill, the week highlighted the broader impact of music education through collaborative events and conversations centered on mentorship, student opportunity, and the future of the music industry.
The annual fly-in marked another milestone in NAMM’s ongoing advocacy efforts, bringing together voices from across the country in support of expanding access to music education and strengthening the future of the arts.
For more information on NAMM advocacy efforts, visit: https://www.namm.org/issues-and-advocacy/fly-in
To get involved, consider joining NAMM’s SupportMusic Coalition: https://www.namm.org/support-music/coalition