A Noble Aspiration Bears Fruit: The Give US Your Poor Concert

The Give US Your Poor Concert shows that individuals in collaboration can have a greater impact on the world.

We’re excited that Interaction Associates will be a sponsor for the The Give US Your Poor Concert for Boston's Homeless, Friday, November 16, 2007, at 8 p.m., at the Strand Theatre in Boston, MA. This concert, along with a CD featuring many of the same artists, is designed to benefit the Boston-based nonprofit policy research organization, Give US Your Poor, and a variety of advocacy and helping organizations. The endeavor is an extraordinary example of collaboration in action, in service of a noble aspiration.

We encourage you to take a look at the Natalie Merchant video here [5]. Natalie reviewed dozens of demos from formerly homeless and homeless musicians, and took eight of the best artists with her into the studio. Though none of these musicians knew each other - much less had played together - in just three days they had produced "There is No Good Reason," a thrilling song full of magic, synergy, and meaning.

Natalie’s leadership was impressive. She brought together an ensemble that was completely disparate to create an amazing work product. The group exemplifies the principle of complementary skills - each brought his or her own expertise on a particular instrument. Natalie demonstrated the ebb and flow of the leader, coming in and backing out, having faith in each musician's ability to make his or her contribution within the context of the whole. A shared and meaningful purpose got people to pull together. As with all successful collaborations, the result is really more than the sum of the parts.

The theme of collaboration is all over this effort, and is relevant to the work that we do inside organizations. We find that people in organizations collaborate better when everyone shares a common language. Music is just such a unifier: it is, if you will, a universal language. It connects people. And the common experience of music at a concert is at once an individual experience and a shared, community experience. The results aren’t mandated. As a listener, you can be with others in the experience and take away a piece of it that is unmistakably your own. As a performer, you own your piece of the outcome, but always have to think about how what you do links to your colleagues and the creation and execution of a brilliantly executed work product.

The Give US Your Poor (GUYP) CD will not only benefit the organization itself. The record label Appleseed Recordings will provide the CD at cost to advocacy groups, agencies and nonprofits to be sold to support their individual missions. Buy the CD here [6].

The Give US Your Poor Concert shows that individuals in collaboration can have a greater impact on the world. We're delighted to acknowledge an inspiring collaboration that is creating positive results. We can find a place where a common language exists, and create a new synthesis for good to emerge. Here is a shining example of that.