The forces for change in our world appear, for the moment, to be violent and chaotic, driven by conflict and extremes of need and neglect. Political and economic systems seem, for the time being, to be incapable of transforming themselves to adapt to the needs of this changing world. Culture and creativity, however, appear to be increasingly capable of transforming human lives for the better. 

The presentation will include examples of culture-driven change, led by music, in societies as far apart as internally displaced refugees in Syria, child soldiers in East Africa, and the visionary work of an ashram in South India.