African American Caregivers Forum

Legacy of Love African American Caregiver Forum . A unique, culturally-focused event that draw family caregivers from throughout the Pacific NW.
Previous Legacy of Love Forums| Sponsors

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.

Legacy of Love Forum 2024

This site will be updated with more details as soon as information is made available.

The 2024 Legacy of Love African American Caregivers Forum is tentatively scheduled to take place in Seattle Washington on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

For more information, email our Aging and Disability Services Planner Karen Winston.

 

Click on the headings below for more information.

Previous Legacy of Love Forums

2023 | 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. Ethlyn McQueen Gibson

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.

Nacala Ayele

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 

Sponsors

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 our Aging and Disability Services Planner Karen Winston.

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.