African American Alzheimer's Advisory Council
The African American Alzheimer’s Advisory Council (4AC) was established in 2018 to help dispel the stigma of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and increase awareness for caregivers in the Colorado African American community, through education and outreach efforts. They develop educational materials for their community, attend community health fairs, and put on events such as Dementia Dialogues, where they share their experiences with dementia with the community. They also counsel the CU Alzheimer's and Cognition Center in their community education and recruitment endeavors, to encourage African American participation in our research studies. The council is made up of influential members of the Denver-Metro African American community, many of whom went through the Boot Camp Translation program, and who are from various professional backgrounds and community organizations. We feel very grateful to have the opportunity to work with the wonderful members of our council.
Key Goals and Aims of the 4AC
- Educate the African American community about Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias through personal experiences, to dispel stigma and raise awareness for caregivers.
- Increase community outreach through collaboration with community organizations.
- Actively represent the research mission and participation interests of the CU Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center to the community, as well as represent the needs of the community back to the researchers.
- Serve as liaison for the CU Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center in building strong individual and local partnerships to build trust among the community and the University to enhance research participation.
- Advise CU Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center investigators in the development of culturally appropriate and sensitive education, outreach, recruitment, retention strategies, products, and programs, including reviewing print and other materials of the Center to ensure the communication of culturally competent, consistent, appropriate, and effective messages.
Key goals and aims based off the tasks of the Washington University in St. Louis African American Advisory Board.
Have a question about dementia in your community? Ask our African American Alzheimer's Advisory Council!
if you have a question for the 4AC, please submit them below. Questions will be reviewed at monthly meetings and replied via email. Please keep your questions broad and do not submit any personal health information, as the 4AC cannot give individual medical advice. If this is an emergency, please call 911.