gistfile1.txt

 bind: [{
      to: { $ref: 'firstCollection' },
      bindings: {
        firstName: '.first-name',
        lastName: '.last-name'
      },
     {to: { $ref: 'secondCollection' },
      bindings: {
        contractNumber: '.contractNumber',
        lastName: '.last-name'
      }
     }]

oops, i goofed on this line. the "at" doesn't need another "$ref":

element: { $ref: '.some-class-of-a-child-element', at: 'conversationSectionView' },