Community Partners
Community Advisory Boards
Our community activities and partnerships are guided by the expertise of community stakeholders who are dedicated to spreading the word about brain health and the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and AD-related dementia on individuals, families, and communities. These "Ambassadors" are critical to our mission to develop and deliver quality awareness and information programs that empower community members and enhance the quality of life of people with memory loss and their care partners.
Community Ambassadors
The AKA's of Clay County
We are honored to partner with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® of Clay County to advance brain health awareness in the community. Under the guidance of Ambassador, Mrs. Pat Hicks Harley, this partnership is committed to empowering community residents with resources, education, and proactive steps toward healthier brain aging.
The Potter's House International Ministries
Led by Ambassador, Bishop Mark McGuire, we are proud to partner with The Potter’s House International Ministries to expand brain health awareness and services to the Westside of Jacksonville. Together, we have hosted free memory screenings and important resources for early detection of dementia. Ongoing events will bring experts and community members together for engaging, informative conversations about cognitive wellness.
Bern's Angels ACEing Alzheimer's Event
We are proud to partner with Bern’s Angels, a local nonprofit founded by Ambassador, Mrs. Celestine Smith, and her two sisters, having lost their beloved mother, Bernice Carswell, to Alzheimer's disease and dementia. We support Bern’s Angels’ annual Acing Alzheimer’s event, which is Jacksonville’s first tennis tournament dedicated specifically to raising funds for Alzheimer’s awareness. Click here to learn more.
Pathways 2 Brain Health
Ambassador, Mrs. Pamela Quarles, helped develop and organize this collaborative series of informational events delivered in partnership by the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) and Bethel Baptist Institutional Church. At these events, congregation and community members engaged with experts on aging and dementia through panel discussions, memory screenings, and an educational expo.
Dementia Friendly Communities
A Dementia Friendly Community (DFC) is one that takes meaningful steps to create environments where people living with dementia feel supported, respected, and included in everyday community life. It's a place where both individuals with dementia and their care partners can thrive because community members work together to become knowledgeable about dementia and develop a deeper understanding of what it is like to suffer memory loss. A DFC also works towards providing needed resources to support the needs of people living with dementia and their caregivers. The Mayo Clinic ADRC is proud to partner with the following communities on their journey to becoming and remaining dementia friendly.
New Town Community Partners
Back row (L to R): Dr. Feacher Williams, Verona Mitchell, Rosalind Rawla, Kenneth Reddick
Front row: Shirley Brown, Marcia Ellison, Michelle Wilger, Chiquita Rivers, Tina Logan, Sherri Randolph.
New Town Dementia Friendly Memory Cafe
Our partners in Jacksonville’s New Town neighborhood host a monthly Memory Café, offering a welcoming space for those impacted by dementia to gather and learn, connect, and share. Led by Ms. Marcia Ellison and Ms. Tina Logan, Memory Café offers brain health and wellness tips, caregiver support, and community fellowship. Mayo Clinic team members provide guidance and resources as needed. Upcoming meetings can be found in our Calendar of Events.
New Town Dementia Connection Newsletter
In January 2019, the New Town Dementia Friendly Community and Mayo Clinic ADRC launched a community newsletter, Dementia Connection, to share caregiver tips and information about dementia with community residents. Mrs. Shirley Brown served as co-Editor before taking the reins as Editor-in-Chief, with support from Mayo Clinic partners as needed.
Brentwood Community Partners
Brentwood Dementia Friendly Community
The Mayo Clinic ADRC, 2nd Mile Ministries, and the Brentwood Neighbors community action team are partnering to listen and address the needs of Brentwood residents who would like to know more about healthy brain aging, memory loss, and caring for loved ones with dementia. This collaboration is shaping impactful initiatives that will help foster connection, purpose, and wellness among Brentwood seniors with memory loss and their care partners.
Outreach Team
The Mayo Clinic Florida Brain Health outreach team is out and active in the community, sharing information and resources on aging, memory loss, and dementia. We are happy to engage community members at our information tables, presentations, panel discussions, workshops, caregiver programs, memory screenings, and community awareness events. The gallery below includes past events that we have developed or supported. Click here if you or your organization would like to partner with us on an upcoming program, project, or event.
Community Health Fairs
At community health fairs, we provide education and resources to promote brain health, offer information on early warning signs and risk factors for memory loss, and share information about support strategies and resources. We are always happy to connect attendees with tools to improve brain health, wellness, and quality of life.
Memory Screenings
Throughout the year, staff from the Mayo Clinic ADRC can be found out in the community providing free memory screenings to help people identify cognitive concerns early, when there is more opportunity to make a difference. People who complete screening are given a copy of their results, which they can share with their personal physician for follow up. ADRC staff and Ambassadors are also available on site at memory screenings to answer questions and provide guidance.
Community Engagement
The Mayo Brain Health team participates in city and neighborhood events to connect with residents and organizations about aging, dementia, and brain health. We invite you to stop by our table to say hello and chat with us about aging and memory concerns you may have. We are happy to answer questions, help identify resources, and share the many ways you can keep your brain healthy as you age.
Arts and Entertainment
We are proud to partner with the arts community to offer educational entertainment such as the "Forget Me Not" stage play. Stories and characters can show what memory loss and dementia can feel like for a person and their family. They help us see the challenges, but also the love and strength that remain. By watching these experiences unfold, communities can better understand dementia, talk about it more openly, and learn how to support one another with care and compassion.
"Forget Me Not"
Presentations
We are always delighted to share information with community groups and organizations through presentations, panel discussion, and workshops. Topics include introductory “Dementia 101” information on the basics of dementia, warning signs, and risk factors to more focused presentations, such as the latest treatments, scientific breakthroughs, caregiver strategies, the pillars of healthy brain aging, and more.
Jacksonville Housing Authority
Ritz Theatre
Caregiver Support Resources
Caregiving is one of the most important jobs anyone can take on, and we are pleased to collaborate with community partners such as New Town Memory Cafe, Jacksonville’s Dementia Care and Cure Initiation, the Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens, and the Jacksonville Zoo, to offer resources and programs that support caregivers in their journey.
St. Paul Missionary Baptist
Cummer Museum
American Beach
Virtual Support Group
Caregiver Workshop
Cummer Museum & Gardens