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Peace Tracks

Amplifying global youth voices for peace through music, empathy and creative collaboration.

Young people are living in a world full of conflict with few options to voice their vision for the future. Through collaboration with global peers on an original song, music video and livestream concert, Peace Tracks provides youth the opportunity to be exposed to diverse perspectives, build empathy, learn effective communication and share their collective voice for peace with the world.

Shortlisted
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Overview

HundrED shortlisted this innovation

HundrED has shortlisted this innovation to one of its innovation collections. The information on this page has been checked by HundrED.

Web presence

2021

Established

1K

Children

5

Countries
Target group
Students upper
Updated
June 2024
Prioritizing creativity and choosing empathy and collaboration over hierarchy and competition. Encouraging cross-cultural connection and dialogue. Working towards a future where youth learn to appreciate differences and find common ground.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

To provide youth an opportunity to make global connections and inspire and empower them to use music to collaborate on creating the change they want to see in the world.

Peace Tracks was co-founded by the Plugged In Band Program (www.pluggedinband.org) in Boston, MA.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

Each session begins with students sharing about themselves, their musical tastes, and their culture. Each band then selects a theme for their song about issues their generation or culture is facing and the positive change they want to create in the world. Each band then writes lyrics collaboratively, and creates, performs, records, and mixes music for their song using Soundtrap, a collaborative digital audio workstation. Next, each band creates a story board, gathers video footage, and edits their music video using WeVideo, a collaborative video editing platform. Occasional live video conferences on Microsoft Teams help students get to know each other better. The session culminates in a live-streamed concert on YouTube with participants celebrating each other’s work through a live chat. Classroom teachers from partner schools join Peace Tracks staff in facilitating and moderating interactions among the students.

How has it been spreading?

Peace Tracks has been promoted globally through a two year US State Department grant administered by the Stevens Initiative (part of the Aspen Institute). Peace Tracks has also been spreading by word of mouth.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Send an email to info@pluggedinband.org

Implementation steps

Identify teachers and students
Identify teachers and students who are interested in participating in Peace Tracks (music experience isn't necessary)
Connect with schools in other countries
Identify schools in other countries who will participate in the virtual exchange.
Identify a collaborative platform to use
Peace Tracks uses Microsoft Teams, Soundtrap and WeVideo.
Engage music teachers to lead the virtual bands
Each virtual band is led by a music teacher.
Identify a collaborative music creating tool
Peace Tracks uses Soundtrap
Identify a collaborative video editing app
Peace Tracks uses WeVideo
Hold a live stream concert on YouTube
Once all of the bands have written, performed/created and original song - and created a music video, stream all of the videos in a live concert on YouTube with students, teachers, friends and families supporting each other through the live chat.

Spread of the innovation

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