Sonic Memory Circles is a community-centered program that explores the intersection of archival sound, lived experience, and mental health. Presented by Afro Moone + Detroit Sound Conservancy

Led by sound practitioner Sophiyah E., who brings years of experience in providing sound-based healing practices throughout Detroit, this project creates intimate spaces where elders can share personal stories of resilience and the role sound has played in their healing journeys.

Wendell Harrison

Myrtle Thompson Curtis

Jon Dixon

Community Dialogue & Performance

Moderated by Michelle Jahra McKinney

Installation by: iii

Catered by Roti Baby

Each session features a guided conversation with a community elder, supported by a sound-based demonstration that reflects their individual narrative. Drawing from DSC’s archival holdings, which includes historic music recordings, oral histories, and visual material, Sophiyah E. alongside selected community elders, will layer archival materials with live sound synthesis.

This multimodal approach creates a grounded, immersive environment that supports reflection, emotional processing, and intergenerational learning. In doing so, Sonic Memory Circles elevate community knowledge while reframing the archive as a living tool for emotional and cultural restoration.

As a culminating element, the reimagined sound pieces and recorded conversations will be added back into the DSC archive. This transforms each session into an ongoing resource for public engagement, scholarship, and community feedback. Over time, the project builds a growing collection of sonic testimonies that document how Detroiters use sound as a pathway to healing, connection, and cultural memory.