The Power of a Shared Meal

There’s something incredible that happens when people sit down together and break bread. Not just for friends and family, but even for people who have deep divisions and don’t like each other. There’s a growing body of literature on this topic which goes by names like “culinary diplomacy.” We have noted the power and potential, and for this reason we include a shared meal as part of our Heart & Mind Conversations. This process was incorporated a few years into in an intriguing television program called "Breaking Borders" from the Travel Channel. This unique show combined great cooking with meal conversations between enemies. Unfortunately, it was limited to one season. Click this link to watch the episode that is still timely titled Israel/Palestine at the Vimeo page of the show’s producer Brian Leonard.

WHAT IF a new series of short videos, or a series was produced, that tapped into the science of conflict and brought people together over a common meal and strategic conversations geared toward creating openness and trust-building?