ALIVE INSIDE in Sheboygan County

The film ALIVE INSIDE is a joyous cinematic exploration of music’s capacity to reawaken our souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity.  Filmmaker Michael Rossato-Bennett chronicles the astonishing experiences of individuals around the country who have been revitalized through the simple experience of listening to music.  This stirring documentary follows social worker Dan Cohen, founder of the nonprofit Music & Memory, as he fights against a broken healthcare system to demonstrate music’s ability to combat memory loss and restore a deep sense of self.  The film has fostered an explosion of Music & Memory facilities across the country, now over 2000.  From an outpouring of interest, Rossatto-Bennett created the ALIVE INSIDE Foundation and the Adopt an Elder/Build a Bridge project to further expand the vision of bringing music to elders by empowering youth to become music detectives to find the songs that spark memories while also learning about dementia and cultivating empathy.   

Local National Honor Society student counselor for Sheboygan North High School, became interested in ALIVE INSIDE upon viewing the video online, and identified students interested in participating in the program.  Partnering with the Aging & Disability Resource Center and the Alzheimer’s Association to identify persons with dementia living in their own homes throughout our county, students were matched up with families, built personalized music playlists, have been meeting regularly with their matched family, and recording reactions.  As a pilot for the Adopt an Elder/Build a Bridge program offered for the first time to persons living with dementia in the community, the work of these students and families will be a model to be replicated throughout communities within the United States and beyond.  A second ALIVE INSIDE video is in the works, with parts being filmed on location in Sheboygan County!

Join us on June 2, 6:00-9:00 PM at Sheboygan North High School for a community viewing of the film that opened the hearts of millions!  Winner of the Sundance Film Festival 2014 Audience Award, ALIVE INSIDE: A Story of Music & Memory has the potential to change lives. Learn how the Adopt an Elder / Build a Bridge program has been connecting Sheboygan North High School students and persons with dementia through music within our county.  Get a sneak peak of video clip that will be used in the making of ALIVE INSIDE 2, featuring local residents.  Contact Ginny Nyhuis at 920-838-1311 or Lisa Hurley at 920-467-4079 for additional information.