“We’re listening, but we’re also going to tell the story and, again, we’re sitting in proximity. We just don’t get to do that much in our lives….I think sometimes, when you have a crack in the dam, it allows other things to pour out.” ~ Shaka Mitchell
In the thick of the pandemic, in a driveway in Nashville, a group of friends swapped songs that reminded them of life’s important moments.
Over time, that simple gesture – using music to rebuild connective tissue – became the Come Together Music Project, the brainchild of Shaka Mitchell.
He wrote, “I have seen firsthand how sharing a song can shortcut barriers and spark curiosity about perspectives vastly different from our own…”
At a time when we can use all the connective tissue we’ve got, why not turn to something as fundamental as music to build our curiosity muscle?
Those follow-up questions are really important. You’ve got to be curious to know the next thing.
We talk about linking questions to shared experiences, the power of listening together, self-disclosure and surprising ourselves, the value of not dwelling on differences, taking our own joy as inspiration for action, follow-up questions, my journey back to a childhood lullaby, tapping others’ creative expression — and that it’s not really about the music, after all.
Listen to #329: Curiosity & the Come Together Music Project, with Shaka Mitchell
Shaka Mitchell is a lawyer, facilitator, and national leader in education reform policy.
The Come Together Music Project uses music to deepen existing relationships, create new ones, and build bridges across socio-economic, ideological, and generational divides. By linking personal musical selections with more common, life experiences, participants (including audience members) find common ground through the universal language of music. Check out their wonderful guide for finding common ground around the dinner table.
Not familiar with George Gerhwin’s Summertime? Pick your favorite version: Ella Fitzgerald & Lois Armstrong, Sam Cooke, Fantasia… What’s your earliest song memory?
If you like the idea of bridging conversations, try these C2BC Classics: The Transformative Power of Curiosity & Deep Canvasing, with Sulma Arias; Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, with Monicá Guzmán; The Human Library, with Ronni Abergel; & Curiosity & Peace Building, with Alp Özerdem.
Theme music by Sean Balick; “Turning On The Lights” by Speakeasy, via Blue Dot Sessions.
You can subscribe to Choose to Be Curious on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
