Celebrating an Important Partnership During Black History Month
For 26 years now, the Mesulam Center and the Francis J. Atlas Center, a regional senior center located in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago and serving a largely Black and African American population, have had a long and successful partnership. In fact, the Atlas Center has been a champion and collaborator of the Mesulam Center since its inception in 1994. The two organizations have worked together to provide educational experiences about dementia, brain-aging, and a healthy memory for a community that is at double the risk of dementia than white persons.
The Atlas Center is a part of a network of 21 senior centers throughout the city that serve 60+ year old Chicagoans. Their primary goal is to connect older adults to vital community services that can help them stay healthy and independent. Some classes the Atlas Center offers are computer classes, fitness, arts and crafts, medical counseling, and assistance in receiving senior benefits.
Our seniors are very much into maintaining their memory as much as possible, because a lot of them have noticed changes. So, the Mesulam Center has been really good about educating our seniors about brain health and the research at the center."”
Brain Health Basics
During the pandemic, the Atlas Center’s offerings have gone online. On February 11, the center hosted “Brain Health Basics” via Zoom during which Maureen Daly, PhD, discussed maintaining brain health. More than 70 attendees joined from across the city.