Mental Health Assoc. Explores Art & Creativity - Zoom in 11/2/20

VIRTUAL GROUP - JOIN US MONDAYs at 5 p.m. Host Lynette Sheard, Director of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey's New Jersey Mental Health Players, explores mental health and creativity every week, through insightful interactive discussion and an interview with a special guest from the performing arts community. Zoom in or watch on Facebook Live on the Mental Health Association in New Jersey's Facebook Page for an excellent opportunity to gain valuable information and share collective wellness tips for maintaining emotional well-being. Zoom Meeting ID: 845 9463 4675 Password: 959767 (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84594634675?pwd=Wi9HdWVBYnBaRXdtanZBZFMxN0VIUT09)

On Monday, November 2, Ms. Sheard's guest will be Carl Brister. If the great “Prince Of Soul,” Marvin Gaye posed the question, “What’s Goin On”, to a generation in with his signature classic, Carl Brister poses today’s answer with one word – “L.O.V.E.” Carl Brister’s upcoming release L.O.V.E.(What The World Needs) has a retro-soul vibe reminiscent of a time when good music with lyrics that moved the culture forward reigned. As a follow up to his successful singles “Let’s Go Back” and “Turning Point” which both garnered close to 50,000 YouTube views each and premiered on the BET network and BET Social respectively, this new release begins with a powerful question and ends with what we all need – L.O.V.E. Blending his signature sound of lush harmonies, warm tones, high falsettos, and a fresh approach that will resonate with Adult Contemporary R&B audiences, Mr. Brister cries out the lyrics of L.O.V.E. like a prayer from a man who is concerned for the state of the world. With intention, he urgently addresses the important issues of education as well as voting, police brutality, and discrimination. “As a songwriter,” he adds, “I’m hoping these words will start a conversation about love and help bring people together.”

Carl Brister grew up in Plainfield, NJ. A survivor, he overcame a tragic incident of sexual abuse as a child by a trusted family friend. He now speaks to groups to encourage others who have gone through similar challenges.

Mr. Brister is a highly effective educator, who recently received media attention for the unique way he uses music to teach math. He explains, “We can’t give up on our kids. We have to find new ways to reach them.”

In 2016, Mr. Brister founded The Love+Unity Fest in his current hometown of West Orange, NJ to inspire unity in the community through music. “With the divisiveness that has increased throughout our nation, I felt I needed to do something to bring people together,” he said.
In 2019, Carl founded Music Village which is an NJ non-profit organization that uses music to make a difference in the areas of education, child abuse awareness, and diversity.
The new single L.O.V.E. by Carl Brister will be released in the Spring of 2020 on all online platforms including iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more. With the release, he hopes to take his Love+Unity Tour to communities throughout the country to promote this message of LOVE that is so needed today. For more information visit Carl Brister on social media.