The Power of Music to Transform Conflict: Aaron Shneyer at TEDxAmericanU

Aaron Shneyer is the Founder and Executive Director of Heartbeat, a nonprofit social enterprise using music to empower Israeli and Palestinian youth to transform conflict, which he launched in 2007 as a Fulbright-mtvU Fellow. In 2005 he graduated from Georgetown University with a BA in Anthropology and has since worked as a program leader and dialogue facilitator with various youth empowerment and civil society peace-building efforts. This May Aaron will complete his MA in Social Enterprise at American University's School of International Service. Aaron writes, produces, and performs with various music ensembles around the world. www.heartbeat.fm

The Power of Music to Transform Conflict
Filmed by Ford Fischer and Justin Parker
Edited by Ford Fischer

Music and creative media offer powerful tools to educate, empower and build respect far beyond physical and psychological barriers. Facing the oncoming migration and resource needs of as many as 1 billion climate refugees by 2050, this presentation highlights the critical role music and creative media can and must play to build mutual-respect and trust across the world. Engaging with the experiences of Heartbeat, a nonprofit social enterprise empowering Israeli and Palestinian youth musicians, audience members will explore the three critical tools for music creation: Listening, Respect, and Responsibility, as a guide for sustainable community building and conflict transformation.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)