Grant Program: Community Catalyst Grant

Lilada’s Livingroom, which provides culturally competent services to Black women and girls, sought to create a virtual safe space for Black girls between the ages of 10 and 17 who are at high risk for suicide and sexual abuse. The project aimed to create a positive online community focused on trauma healing through podcasts, videos and other forms of creative expression like art and poetry. Lilada’s Livingroom successfully launched 50 episodes of a podcast called “Defending Black Girlhood.” Three affirmation, journaling and coloring books that celebrate Black girls were also published and distributed for free within the Madison community.

This project, led by the Great Lakes Native American Elder Association (GLNAEA), aimed to to educate and empower tribal communities while creating or harnessing existing resources to serve families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs). American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) individuals have been identified to be at high risk for ADRDs, with higher incidences of early- and late-onset dementias compared to other ethnic groups. To address this, GLNAEA hosted nine educational events that focused on promoting awareness of ADRDs and discussing their effects on the community. Awareness grew over time, with 120 individuals Attendance grew over time, with the most well-attended event attracting 120 individuals, reflecting a strong interest among elders. These events featured Indigenous speakers, including clinicians and researchers specializing in dementia and aging, who were crucial in building the trust needed for the elders to engage with the content.