Shifting Paradigms through Music

December 13, 2008

I wanted to share a novel approach to creating positive change. Grammy winning filmmakerMark Johnson believes that music can be a powerful transformative tool. As the founder ofPlaying for Change (gotta love that name), he has spent the last ten years bringing musicians together to remix classics and foster greater global understanding. The attached video was performed by more than 100 musicians from New Orleans, Tibet, Russia and Africa…and everyone seems to be playing well! Check out the Playing for Change website to learn more.

Deidre Combs

Deidre Combs is the author of three books on cross-cultural approaches to resolving conflict and overcoming challenges: The Way of Conflict, Worst Enemy, Best Teacher and Thriving Through Tough Times. The books integrate perennial wisdom from the world’s lasting cultural traditions with systems theory and brain research.

Dr. Combs is a management consultant, executive coach, mediator and core instructor in Montana State University’s Leadership Fellows Certificate Program and Columbia University’s Teacher’s College Global Competence Certificate Program. Since 2007, she has also taught intensive leadership training to State Department-selected students, teachers and professional leaders from throughout the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America and Pakistan’s FATA region.