Grassroots Solutions: Fighting Dementia Stigma in Communities of Color

This event has passed. You can read highlights from the interview and watch the YouTube recording of the talk here. 

On Thursday, August 24th, at 10:00 a.m. PT/1:00 p.m. ET, Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity, artist and advocate Gloria Aguirre, and Alzheimer’s advocates Mollie Richards, and Ralph Richards will join Being Patient Live Talks to discuss how patients, families, and community leaders in communities of color are taking a grassroots approach to change the conversation about Alzheimer’s and dementia. The conversation will center on approaches to fighting the stigma around living with these diseases and breaking down barriers around clinical research and quality brain health care. This panel is sponsored by Eisai.

Gloria Aguirre, a San Francisco-based artist and community advocate, is an Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity, the Artistic Director of Creative Minds, and Community Engagements Manager at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center. In her work, she advocates for long term investments to improve health literacy and access to care in often marginalized communities, like the Latino community in San Francisco. Originally from Miami, FL, she previously worked on Medicaid long-term care reform efforts with aging community members, and with families navigating care for children with autism.

Mollie Richards, long-time Alzheimer’s educator alongside her husband Ralph, currently serves on the board of directors of the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Indiana. Previously serving as vice chairman of the board of directors at the Rochester-Finger Lakes Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, she is dedicated to making information about Alzheimer’s more accessible to the Black community. Richards is also the co-founder of the Mount Olivet Baptist Church Alzheimer’s Association Ministry, a Indiana Alzheimer’s Association volunteer community educator, and a member of the Indiana Alzheimer Disease Research Center. Now retired, she previously worked as an occupational therapist, whose work focused on rehabilitation management, program development, and staff education. With her background in occupational therapy, she’s experienced in attending and providing seminars, workshops, and conventions surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. 

Ralph Richards, long-time Alzheimer’s advocate alongside his wife Mollie, volunteers as community educator with the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Indiana, providing educational presentations on topics related to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. He also serves as an active member of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter Board of Directors and co-chairs the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center community advisory board. With his advocacy work focused on getting more of the Black community involved in clinical trials, he also works as a consultant associated with the Indiana University School of Medicine. Now retired, Ralph previously worked in radiology and for Eastman Kodak for over 30 years. 

Reserve your seat for free below.