Our goal is to provide information, education, and support to everyone who is affected by Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.

The Multicultural Outreach Program was created to serve individuals and groups of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. These groups face increased risk for and challenges in coping with Alzheimer’s disease.

The program works in partnership with human services agencies, physicians, senior centers, churches, and other organizations to connect with families in the local community.

Program Components

A fundamental goal of the Multicultural Outreach Program is to deliver the chapter’s vital core services to under-served persons and communities.

Core Services

Information and Referral – Resources on a variety of topics, including Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, brain healthy lifestyles, care options, and safety issues are distributed at health fairs, community centers, church events, and designated sites. Information and support are also available 24 hours a day through the Helpline: 800.272.3900.

Care Consultations – One-on-one meetings with individuals and families help them manage a problem or crisis or develop a long-term plan for dealing with the stages of dementia in a loved one.

Education and Training – The chapter sponsors a wide array of educational seminars and conferences on all aspects of Alzheimer’s disease, care giving issues, and brain health.

Support Groups – Regular monthly meetings for Alzheimer’s care givers are held in a variety of community-based sites. Bi-lingual groups enable individuals to learn and support each other in both Spanish and English.

MedicAlert^® & Safe Return^® - This national identification program assists persons with Alzheimer’s disease who are at risk of wandering. Program staff and community partners work together to enroll individuals with dementia, helping to provide a security net for them as well as their families and loved ones. 

Special Programs

The Multicultural Outreach Program also develops special activities and presentations in response to unique needs and opportunities within the community. Many of these have become regular, ongoing programs.

A Circle of Friends - Regular group gatherings in community settings designed to provide socialization and education on a variety of health and safety topics, as well as support for caregivers. Through repeated contact with individual participants, facilitators have an opportunity to make observations, assessments, and conduct one-on-one consultations as needed.

Art and Music Therapy – Structured group activities, incorporating art and music are offered at numerous partner sites and enable participants with dementia to express themselves, exercise their brain and memories, and benefit from positive social interactions.

Intergenerational Activities – Special opportunities are planned throughout the year for elders with and without dementia to interact with children and younger generations.

Research Study – The Multicultural Outreach Program collaborates with the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Medical College of Wisconsin to identify and recruit participants in a long-term research study. The study, entitled “Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention” or WRAP, aims to identify clues about the development and prevention of Alzheimer’s in a group at greater risk of the disease – the adult children of persons with Alzheimer’s. 

Connie Chestnut, C.M.S.W., Milwaukee County Multicultural Grant Manager, has directed the program for the past ten years, building strong partnerships with organizations in Milwaukee County. She is assisted by two Multicultural Outreach Coordinators - one focused primarily on the Hispanic community and another on African Americans throughout the 11-county region.

Connie Chestnut, Milwaukee County Multicultural Grant Manager
connie.chestnut@alz.org

Ana Machado-Gurvin, Multicultural Outreach Coordinator
ana.machado@alz.org

Dimitri Mills, Multicultural Outreach Coordinator
dimitri.mills@alz.org

All Multicultural Outreach staff members can be reached at the Chapter office: 414.479.8800.

The chapter is grateful for financial support of the Multicultural Outreach Program from the Milwaukee County Department on Aging, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the Pettit Foundation, and the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute.