Boca Raton’s Promise Presents “Artist-In-Residence” Weekend Of Community Peace, Love & Music

Proceeds to The Fund Nonprofit’s MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID Trainings

and Community Outreach in Boca Raton

Patti Linsky

Using the love of live music and laughter to unite, inspire and rally “community for community”, Boca Raton’s Promise (BRP) presents an “Artist-in-Residence” Weekend series of three powerful, entertaining andaudience-engaging events.  Featuring nationally recognized vocalist, songwriter, playwright, performer and author Patti Linsky, the line-up includes a “You’ve Got A Friend” Coffee House on Saturday evening, April 28 and the invigorating Altar EGO, an original one-woman powerhouse musical on Sunday morning, April 29. Both follow a weekend opener “Sermon in Song” on Friday evening, April 27. Proceeds from BRP’s
“Artist-in-Residence” series will fund the nonprofit’s MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID trainingsand other education and action-provoking outreach in Boca Raton.

As BRP’s Artist-in-Residence, Linsky — who has performed and provided spiritual guidance around the country — will provide an opportunity for uplifting personal and communal reflection, hope and inspiration through authentic self-empowerment and emboldening a strong “shared sense of humanity”.  Drawing on her personal stories told through humorous and serious anecdotes, songs and life lessons — individuals will explore their own paths, learning how to map out their own journeys as well as ways in which the greater community can support each other. Linsky returns to her native South Florida where she grew up in Coral Gables, was active in URJ youth organizations, song leader at Camp Coleman, graduated from the University of Miami and served as junior cantor at Temple Judea and soprano soloist at Temple Israel before moving to Los Angeles 40 years ago.

• “YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND” COFFEE HOUSE, Saturday, April 28, 7 p.m.
  Atrium Lobby Cendyn, 980 North Federal Highway, Boca RatonThe “fun, friend and fund” evening of peace, love and music is a casual, entertaining throwback nod to the popular, intimate live music venues of the ‘60s and ‘70s where peace-inspired guitar playing and sing-a-long “folk and friend” favorites made everyone feel united and hopeful. Veteran Coffee House Vocalist and Master Song Leader Patti Linsky will be performing and leading audience (with rolling lyrics on screen) in a nostalgic “sing-out-loud-fest” of tunes by Peter, Paul & Mary, Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, James Taylor, John Denver, Simon & Garfunkel, Carole King and John Lennon. Casual Attire. Admission is $65 per person (includes live music, coffees, teas, desserts; cash wine bar available) with proceeds benefiting Boca Raton’s Promise. Advance ticket purchase required online at bocaratonspromise.org.

• ALTAR EGO: ONE-WOMAN POWERHOUSE MUSICAL, Sunday, April 29, 11 a.m.

Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center at Levis JCC, 21050 95th Ave South, Boca Raton
Presented in collaboration with the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center

Altar EGO is an acclaimed one-woman show brimming with signature wit, wisdom and zest for life that features original songs and clever new lyrics to standards, tongue-in-cheek humor and audaciously delicious verve as Cantor Patti Linsky shares her story of going through a near-death experience and coming out on the other side transformed. Told through her very personal compositions and stories, Altar EGO inspires as Linsky traces her physical, emotional, mental and spiritual transformation through her 21-year poignant journey that included a car accident that began a painkiller road, followed by alcohol addiction and later abdominal surgery which almost took her life. The creative, energetic, spiritual child of the singer/songwriter’s extraordinary journey, Altar EGO embraces Linsky’s passion for music and religious commitment as it shares her story of battling depression, painkiller and alcohol addiction to redemption, recovery and ultimately forgiveness so that others may begin to walk a path to their own authenticity, devoid of shame and humiliation. Casual Attire. Admission is $35-reserved seating; $25-general seating with proceeds benefiting Boca Raton’s Promise. Advance ticket purchase required online at www.bocaratonspromise.org.

BRP’s Artist-in-Residence Weekend opens on Friday evening, April 27 at Temple Shaarei Shalom with Linsky serving as Visiting Cantor for Shabbat service with Rabbi Anthony Fratello and Cantor Judith Ovadia. Linsky will share an original “Sermon in Song: The Spirituality of Recovery” perfectly timed to tie into the meaning of the week’s Torah Portion “Kedoshim” referred to as the “Heart of the Torah”. Encouraging acceptance, compassion and love, Linsky will focus on three Hebrew words in the portion that are found at the precise center of the Torah… V’ahavta L’reiacha Kamocha: “You Shall Love Your Neighbor as Yourself”. Temple Shaarei Shalom is located at 9085 Hagen Ranch Road, Boynton Beach, Fla; service begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free and open-to-the-public.

“A community that works together rises together, especially in the aftermath of so much recent pain, loss, anger, fear and questions raised from close-to-home Parkland,” said Rita Thrasher, co-founder and executive director of Boca Raton’s Promise, a grassroots nonprofit organization that has served the Boca Raton community as a relentless trailblazer in raising awareness, increasing education, changing perceptions and starting critical conversations on mental health. It does this through its action-provoking outreach programming for youth and adults, facilitating thought leader conversations and collaborations, public speaker tours and Mental Health First Aid trainings.

BRP’s Mental Health First Aid trainings are free and open to all segments of the community, including teachers, principals, and guidance counselors; police officers and fire/rescue teams; government agencies; parents; grandparents; athletic coaches; clergy; HR professionals; Homeowners Associations; employers and co-workers, etc.

To learn more about BRP’s Artist-in-Residence Weekend and sponsorship opportunities, contact Artist-in-Residence Weekend Co-chairs Bonnie Kaye (bkaye@kcompr.com) and Jon Kaye (jkaye@kcompr.com) at Kaye Communications, Inc., 561-392-5166. To purchase tickets, visit www.bocaratonspromise.org/artist-in-residence.