On Coming Alive !!!

I first saw Alive Inside in March of 2014 at the Cleveland International Film Festival. I was so amazed & inspired at "Henry's" awakening along with the miraculous transformations taking place for other individuals in the film that before the final credits rolled I knew I wanted to help deliver this message to the world. That was the beginning of the Rock Against Dementia Project which now with help from Norm McNamara & our fellow Purple Angel Ambassadors
( numbering more than 500 worldwide ) has become an annual World Rock Against Dementia event ( March 19,2016 there were events in 31 Cities spanning 15 Countries & Marc Wortmann / Alzheimer's Disease International has promised annual support ) to raise awareness & $ for Dementia related causes.
Rock Against Dementia was originally created to reach out to artists & music industry contacts , especially those who contributed to the Soundtrack of the current generations of those living with Dementia with the premise that their music would not only help those we work with , but would also be exposed to new audiences of care-givers & young volunteers that may not be familiar with it. A Win/Win situation for everyone.It was also going to be a means to produce & promote Fund/Awareness raising Events like the one we will be having on June 18th with the legendary Carl Palmer from Emerson,Lake & Palmer & his ELP Legacy Band.
https://www.aliveinside.org/carlpalmer/
However , it was in listening to Michael Rossato Bennett's narrative throughout the film that the REAL impact of this discovery began to emerge.
It was easy for me to sense Michael's angst & anguish at the plight of so many of our "Oldest & Wisest" warriors.
In this crazy world throughout the tumultuous history of the last 85 years or so they have borne witness to economic disasters & downturns , two World Wars & countless other violent conflicts,revolutions in politics , fashion , morals , technology,music,media etc. & so much more that they deserve to be honored & revered just for surviving.
When did our Culture become so self-absorbed , so busy , so incapable of compassion that we were often times relieved & grateful to allow others to take care of them when they needed to be taken care of ?
HOW would we feel if they had abandoned us to the care of others.
I can't deny that I wasn't there for my parents or my son the way I should have been nor do I deny that will be my biggest regret until the day I die.
I am just grateful for the opportunity I have to redeem myself with my grown son & to possibly keep someone else from experiencing that same regret.
As a member of the Alive Inside Foundation TEAM , I was able to catch a sneak peek at Alive Inside #2 & can guarantee that it delves much deeper into the subject of Human Connection & Caring.
Thank you Michael Rossato Bennett for allowing me to be part of your vision.
I'm truly Blessed.
As long as I am able to reach out to artists that understand that Music is the Language of Connection & Music Educators/Students seeking a #PurposeBeyondPerformance like Evan & our young friends from Avalon Park , we will continue encouraging them to make use of their talents to move our work forward.