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Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion


At the Alzheimer's Association, diversity and inclusion are vital to our mission. The Association leads strategic initiatives to support diversity and a culture of inclusivity. These strategic initiatives also strengthen outreach to all populations, providing communities with resources and support to address the Alzheimer’s crisis. By partnering with organizations locally and nationally to advance diversity and inclusion, the Association can broaden its reach in all communities.

Meet our national partners:

African Methodist Episcopal Church

The Association and the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) are working together on a nationwide effort to better reach African-Americans and provide the community with important information regarding Alzheimer's detection, diagnosis, care, treatment, research and advocacy. 

Studies indicate that, while whites make up the majority of the more than 5 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease, African-Americans are about twice as likely as older whites to have Alzheimer's or other dementias. Recognizing this increased risk, the Association and AME are aiming to engage the church's massive network of 2.5 million members. AME is one of the largest Methodist denominations in the world and has persistently advocated for the civil and human rights of African-Americans through social improvement, religious autonomy and political engagement since its founding in 1816.

The Alzheimer's Association and AME partnership will focus on:

  • Increasing concern and awareness of Alzheimer's within AME's community
  • Providing care and support programming and volunteer engagement and training to AME members
  • Expanding research and scientific support opportunities for AME's leadership and congregants
  • Taking advocacy actions on state and federal issues that affect AME members
  • Encouraging participation in community engagement efforts through Walk to End Alzheimer's and The Longest Day  

Mexican Consulate and Ventanilla de Salud

The Association is excited about our collaboration with the Mexican Consulate and their Ventanilla de Salud (VDS) program. We have created tools that highlight the Mexican Consulate and the VDS program's trusted and vital role in Hispanic/Latino communities. In addition, these tools will help Alzheimer’s Association chapters in their efforts to reach out to engage the Mexican Consulate and the VDS program.

This valuable relationship will help increase the Association's outreach and engagement of Hispanic/Latino communities across the country.

The Ventanilla de Salud (VDS) program is implemented through 50 Mexican consulates in the US and local health organizations. VDS provides reliable information on health topics, counseling and referrals to health services available and accessible in local communities.

The vision of VDS is to improve the physical and mental health of Mexicans living in the United States by:

  • Increasing access to primary and preventive health services
  • Increasing health insurance coverage
  • Increasing the supply and quality of culturally sensitive services
  • Reducing the use of emergency services
  • Building and strengthening the local VDS community network as a reliable and sustainable health information program

National Hispanic Council on Aging

The Association and the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) are engaged in a national partnership to better reach and engage  the Latino community with important information relating to Alzheimer's detection, diagnosis, care, treatment, research and advocacy. Together, we are deep in the planning stages for a successful nationwide collaboration which will be communicated once we are ready to launch our activities

The Association and NHCOA have collaborated to created tools for Promotores (Community Health Workers) engagement. In the Hispanic/Latino community, promotores are recognized as trusted laypeople who provide health education and outreach services to the community. The Association, together with NHCOA, encourages Alzheimer’s Association chapters to recruit promotores as volunteers who play a valuable role in extending the reach of the Association in Hispanic/Latino communities.

Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders

SAGE is the country's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults. SAGE has 26 locations in 19 states  and Washington, D.C., as well as a national presence regarding LGBT advocacy, support services, materials and training that the entire Association will benefit from. Many of our Alzheimer’s Association chapters have a local relationship with SAGE, and we're excited to take this to the next level.

SAGE and the Alzheimer's Association are committed to a strategic and multipronged partnership approach that will evolve as we identify needs, learn best practices and explore additional opportunities to engage the LGBT community in the full mission of the Alzheimer's Association.

The current key initiatives of this collaboration include:

  • Connecting chapters and affiliates for grassroots collaboration
  • Training
  • Co-development of an internal issues brief
  • Identifying and pursuing new resources

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