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African American Caregivers Forum
Previous Legacy of Love Forums | Sponsors
Legacy of Love 2024
The 2024 Legacy of Love African American Caregivers Forum will be Saturday, November 2 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Northwest African American Museum (2300 S Massachusetts St., Seattle). Download and share the event flyer.
Keynote Speaker: Beverly Kimmons
Beverly Kimmons, MFT, MSMC, CPC is a dedicated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) professional with nearly 15 years of experience working to increase awareness and understanding of brain health and Alzheimer’s disease in underserved communities. Beverly currently serves as DEI director for the Washington State Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and is regional DEI lead for staff in Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. In addition to these roles, Beverly works to ensure that vital resources, supports, and research opportunities are made more broadly available to underrepresented communities by serving on various statewide committees, including the Washington State Dementia Action Collaborative and the Community Advisory Board for the University of Washington’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
The forum will also feature:
- A panel on Caregiver Experiences with moderator Sharon Outlaw
- Q&A with filmmaker David Wild, Today Was a Good Day
- A presentation on End of Life Pre-Planning with Cydney Barnes, Owner and CEO, Live to Leave Your Legacy
- And more!
For more information on Legacy of Love, email Aging and Disability Services Planner Eldad Mekuria.
Did You Know?
- African American caregivers are 47.7 years old, on average.
- African American caregivers provide care for an average of 5.2 years.
- Most African Americans work while caregiving—on average, 37.5 hours per week.
- Most African American caregivers find a sense of purpose and meaning in the role they take on, and they report being in good health.
The annual Legacy of Love African American Caregivers Forum was first presented in November 2017 as part of National Family Caregivers Month. This unique, culturally-focused event draws family caregivers from throughout the Pacific Northwest.
To learn more about National Family Caregiver’s Month, visit the Caregiver Action Network.
Click on the headings below for more information.
Previous Legacy of Love Forums2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017
2023
The 2023 Legacy of Love African American Caregivers Forum took place on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Northwest African American Museum in Seattle Washington.
Keynote Speaker: Ethlyn McQueen-Gibson, DNP, MSN, RNBC.
Dr. Gibson is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Glennan Center for Geriatrics & Gerontology at the Eastern Virginia School of Medicine. She is returning to the PNW where she previously worked for MultiCare Health System and served as faculty at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma Community College, and Pierce College. Dr. Gibson will address the multiple issues impacting caregivers in the African American community from her perspective as a clinician, wife, mother, grandmother, and caregiver for her own mother. Her NIH clinical research addresses Alzheimer’s Dementia in the African American community, she will address the need for increased diversity in communities of color.
Presentation: “Caregiver Mental Health and Self Care” by Nacala Ayele, chair of the Tubman Center for Health and Freedom Board of Directors.
Panelists: Two local caregivers shared stories from their personal caregiving journeys, addressing Caregiving From a Distance and Advocacy, Healthcare & Hospitalization
Event Co-Sponsors: AARP Washington, African American Elders Program at Catholic Community Services, Age Friendly Seattle, Aging and Disability Services, Seattle Human Services Department, Mayor’s Council on African American Elders, National Association of Social Workers, and Sound Generations.
Event Flyer: 2023
2022
The 2022 Legacy of Love forum was a virtual event (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) held on Saturday, November 12, 2022.
Keynote Address: “Black Joy Matters for Caregiver Health,” by Dr. Raina Croff, Oregon Health & Science University.
Panel Presentation: Local caregivers Helen Sawyer, Minister Wilhelmina Daniel, and Michelle Williams shared stories from their personal caregiving journeys.
Panel Moderator: Sharon Sobers-Outlaw.
Presentation: Catherine Cordova, Chaplain, Evergreen Hospice Services, about how to reframe the dying process for a healthy outlook and demystify conversations about hospice and end of life.
Take-aways included joyful activities, doing your best despite burnout; finding respite; prioritizing self-care, and managing stress; finding humor in everyday situations; connecting with other caregivers; mentorship and social support; and access to community resources.
Event Flyer: 2022
Event Recording: YouTube (Length 1:47:33)
2021
The 2021 Legacy of Love forum was a virtual event (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) held on Saturday, November 13, 2021.
Keynote Address: LueRachelle Brim-Atkins, founder and principal consultant of Brim-Donahoe & Associates.
Panel Presentations: Local caregivers Theresa Gossett, Pammyla Hubbard, and Stephen LaBoo shared stories from their personal caregiving journeys.
Panel Moderator: Margaret Boddie from the African American Elders Program.
Presentation: End-of-Life Planning by attorney Stephanie Haslam, Compassionate Legal Care, LLC
Take-aways included tips for finding humor in everyday situations and celebrating the moments that touch your heart; tips for including loved ones in social activities with friends and family; tips for connecting with other caregivers; tips for getting your affairs in order and preparing for end-of-life; and resources for family caregivers throughout the region.
Event Flyer: 2021 |
Event Recording: YouTube (Length 2:10:51)
2020
The 2020 Legacy of Love forum was a virtual event (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) held on Saturday, November 14, 2020.
Keynote Address: George Dicks, Geriatric Mental Health Professional, Harborview Mental Health Services
Caregivers Panel: Reverend Shirley Poston from the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, and Charles Williams,
Moderator: Wyvonne Ray
Event Flyer: 2020
Event Recording: YouTube (Length 2:47:49)
2019
The 2019 Legacy of Love forum was held on Saturday, November 10, 2019, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Tukwila Washington.
Keynote Presentation: Maxine Hayes, MD, MPH, “Lessons Learned from Caregiving for My Mother”
Panel Presentation: “Caregivers: Loving from the Front Line,” with Sharon Sobers-Outlaw, Marla York, and Charles Williams
Film Screening: “Speaking of Dying,” by Trudy James, MRE, Chaplain.
Panel Discussion: Moderated by Brenda Charles-Edwards, chair of the Mayor’s Council on African American Elders, among Dr. Jim deMaine, Stephanie Haslam, and George Dicks, who fielded questions and comments from the audience.
Event Flyer: 2019
Event Photos: 2019
2018
The 2018 Legacy of Love forum was held on Saturday, November 10, 2018, at the Southcenter Doubletree Hotel in Seattle Washington.
Presentation: “Caregiver Hope, Love & Resiliency,” by George Dicks, BA, GMHS, RCMHP, Harborview Mental Health Services
Presentation: “Food for Thought: Culturally Competent Dialogue about Alzheimer’s, Caregiving, and Advocacy among African Americans,” by Cary Goodman, Balm in Gilead
Presentation: “Our Lives, Our Choices: Planning for End-of-Life,” by Dr. Jim deMaine, Retired Pulmonary/Critical Care Physician, Group Health
Presentation: “Caregivers: Loving from the Front Line”—a caregiver panel comprising Connie Bown, Daphne Jones, and Taylene Watson
Event Flyer: 2018
Event Recordings: Hope, Love, Resiliency and Planning & Advocacy (Seattle Channel, 2018)
Event Photos: 2018
2017
The 2017 Legacy of Love forum was held on Saturday, October 2017, at the Southcenter Doubletree Hotel in Seattle Washington. Participants heard presentations on Alzheimer’s disease research and related disorders, brain health, diagnoses, and legal and financial planning for dementia caregivers.
Presentation: Mark Snowden, MD, Associate Professor, University of Washington
Presentation: Murray Raskind, MD, Psychiatry and Geriatric Psychology
Presentation: George Dicks, Geriatric Mental Health Practitioner, Harborview
Presentation: Stephanie Haslam, Attorney at Law
Event Flyer: 2017
The Legacy of Love African American Caregivers Forum relies on sponsors so the event can remain free of charge for family caregivers. For information about sponsorship opportunities, email Aging and Disability Services Planner Eldad Mekuria.
Sponsors include AARP Washington; Aging and Disability Services—the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle & King County; the African American Elders Program at Catholic Community Services; Age Friendly Seattle; Mayor’s Council on African American Elders; National Association of Social Workers—Washington Chapter; Seattle Human Services; and Sound Generations.
