Legacy of Love

Keynote speaker

To be determined. Return here later in 2023 for updates.

Caregiver Panelists

To be determined. Return here later in 2023 for updates.

Presentation

To be determined. Return here later in 2023 for updates.

Takeaways

Tune in to the 2023 forum for tips such as:

• 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
• Accessing available community resources

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, e-mail Karen Winston at Karen.Winston@seattle.gov.

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.

Previous Legacy of Love Forums

2022 Forum

The 2022 Legacy of Love forum was a virtual event (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) on Saturday, November 12. The two-hour program included the following presentations:

• Keynote address, “Black Joy Matters for Caregiver Health,” was given 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. The panel moderator was Sharon Sobers-Outlaw.
• Presentation by 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.

2022 Event Flyer | Video recording (YouTube, 1:47:33)

2021 Forum

The 2021 Legacy of Love forum was a virtual event (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) on Saturday, November 13. The two-hour program included the following presentations:

• Keynote address by LueRachelle Brim-Atkins, founder and principal consultant of Brim-Donahoe & Associates, who provided dementia care for her mother.
• Panel presentation: Local caregivers Theresa Gossett, Pammyla Hubbard, and Stephen LaBoo shared stories from their personal caregiving journeys. The panel moderator was Margaret Boddie from the African American Elders Program.
• Presentation on 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.

2021 Event Flyer | Video recording (YouTube, 2:10:51)

2020 Forum

The 2020 Legacy of Love forum was a virtual event (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) on Saturday, November 14. The two-hour program included the following presentations:

• Keynote address by George Dicks, Geriatric Mental Health Professional, Harborview Mental Health Services
• Caregivers panel featuring Rev. Shirley Poston (Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church) and Charles Williams, moderated by Wyvonne Ray

2020 Event Flyer | Video recording (YouTube, 02:47:49)

2019 Forum

The 2019 Legacy of Love forum was held on Saturday, November 10, at Embassy Suites by Hilton, Tukwila. The six-hour program included exhibits, entertainment, lunch, prizes, and the following presentations:

• Keynote Presentation: “Lessons Learned from Caregiving for My Mother,” by Maxine Hayes, MD, MPH
• 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. Following the film, Brenda Charles-Edwards, chair of the Mayor’s Council on African American Elders, moderated a panel discussion among Dr. Jim deMaine, Stephanie Haslam, and George Dicks, and fielded questions and comments from the audience.

2019 Flyer | 2019 Photos

2018 Forum

The 2018 Legacy of Love forum was on Saturday, November 10, at the Southcenter Doubletree Hotel. The six-hour program included exhibits, entertainment, lunch, prizes, and the following presentations:

• “Caregiver Hope, Love & Resiliency,” by George Dicks, BA, GMHS, RCMHP, Harborview Mental Health Services
• “Food for Thought: Culturally Competent Dialogue about Alzheimer’s, Caregiving, and Advocacy among African Americans,” by Cary Goodman, Balm in Gilead
• “Our Lives, Our Choices: Planning for End-of-Life,” by Dr. Jim deMaine, Retired Pulmonary/Critical Care Physician, Group Health
• “Caregivers: Loving from the Front Line”—a caregiver panel comprising Connie Bown, Daphne Jones, and Taylene Watson

2018 Event Flyer

Video & Photo Coverage

• African American Caregivers Forum: Hope, Love, Resiliency (Seattle Channel, 2018)
• African American Caregivers Forum: Planning & Advocacy (Seattle Channel, 2018)

For photos from the 2018 forum, click here.

2017 Forum

The 2017 Legacy of Love forum was on Saturday, October 21, at the Southcenter Doubletree Hotel. Participants heard presentations on Alzheimer’s disease research, related disorders, brain health, diagnoses, and legal and financial planning for dementia caregivers. Presenters included:

• Mark Snowden, MD, Associate Professor, University of Washington
• Murray Raskind, MD, Psychiatry and Geriatric Psychology
• George Dicks, Geriatric Mental Health Practitioner, Harborview
• Stephanie Haslam, Attorney at Law

2017 Event Flyer

This unique, culturally-focused event draws family caregivers from throughout the Pacific Northwest. For more information about the Legacy of Love African American Caregiver Forums, e-mail Aging and Disability Services planner Karen Winston.