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Bringing new voices into the Forum
The Alzheimer's Associations offers many wonderful programs and services for people affected by the disease. But what if, because you don't speak English, you couldn't understand what they are?
That's what Raul Mux confronted when he began working as an outreach specialist at the Alzheimer's Association Delaware Valley Chapter three years ago. Mux works with Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Colombians and Dominicans to learn about the disease and take advantage of the Association's programs.
"I have spent a lot of time translating reading materials, but it's not just the words," said Mux, who is from a Mayan community in Guatemala and has lived in the United States for five years. "Alzheimer's is not well understood in the Latino community. We are teaching people what it is and how to deal with it in a way that they can understand."
Mux has also turned his attention beyond the community he
serves. As part of his training, he went to the Public Policy
Forum in Washington, D.C., and found the experience eye-opening
and motivating. He was astounded to learn from his state representatives
that, for every 100 letters they receive from English-speaking
advocates, they receive one or two from Latinos. Mux, determined
to increase the number of Latinos speaking up to improve public
policy for Alzheimer's victims, began organizing a bus trip
to Washington for Latinos.
"It's fun," said Mux. "We enjoy every part of it."
The daylong trip starts at 5 a.m. with a nearly three-hour drive to Washington, includes a round of meetings with members of Congress and senators, a little sightseeing, and arrival back home by 7 p.m. Nicknamed the Latino Bus, the trip also includes training about Alzheimer's issues and pointers for speaking about it.
"It's a long day for some of our seniors, but they see it is a unique opportunity. Not many Latinos go the Capitol," said Mux. "And they have a good reason to be there, to get the government to increase the amount of dollars for research. We are fighting against a disease that kills people, because we love the people who have the disease."
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