First Community Health Foundation

DEMENTIA FRIENDLY DULUTH (DFD)OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY MORE AWARE, INFORMED, SENSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING AND CARING FOR THOSE WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND OTHER FORMS OF DEMENTIA.OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO IMPROVE AWARENESS OF THE RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR FAMILIES AND INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF DEMENTIA ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.DFD ESTABLISHED AND FACILITATES DEMENTIA COLLABORATIVE MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES. THE COLLABORATION WAS FORMED AS A PROGRAM OF DFD FOR THE PURPOSE OF NETWORKING, SHARING, IDEA GENERATING, AND GROUP ACTIONS ACROSS COMMUNITY.CURRENT PRIORITY AREAS - DEMENTIA CHORUS SIMILAR TO THE GIVING VOICE CHORUS, DEMENTIA FRIENDS TRAINING ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, YOUTH OUTREACH, RESIDENTIAL AND MEDICAL FACILITY STAFF TRAINING, SUPPORT RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA AND CAREGIVERS, TRANSPORTATION, AND LIBRARY COLLABORATION.

Expenses: $12K

THE VICTORY CHORUSTHE VICTORY CHORUS SUPPORTS THE INITIATIVE OF BECOMING A DEMENTIA FRIENDLY COMMUNITY.THE CHORUS OFFERS THE RESIDENTS OF DULUTH WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY DEMENTIA WITH A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD CONNECTIONS, SEEK JOY AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH SONG. THE CHORUS PROVIDES A VENUE FOR CAREGIVERS AND PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SHARED EXPERIENCE WHICH PROMOTES THEIR STRENGTHS AND ABILITIES DESPITE DISEASE. THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN REHEARSALS AND PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, THE CHORUS PROMOTES SELF-DISCOVERY, LEARNING, LAUGHTER AND A SENSE OF INCLUSION.COVID PRESENTED CHALLENGES FOR THE CHORUS IN 2020. LIKE MANY ORGANIZATIONS VICTORY CHORUS HAD TO ADAPT ITS PROGRAM FORMAT THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY. A SINGALONG FORMAT WAS IMPLEMENTED. THE SINGALONG FORMAT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIALIZATION AND CONNECTION VIA ZOOM. THE VICTORY CHORUS WAS ABLE TO BROADEN ITS REACH THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY.

Expenses: $131K