Co-Founder, Creative Director Of Artz
I'M Still Here Foundation
Greater Boston Area
ARTZ & It Takes a Village, an initiative of the I'm Still Here Foundation, works with artists and cultural organizations from around the world to improve the quality of life for people living with Alzheimer's and related dementia.Designed and implemented ‘It Takes a Village (ITAV)’ a community-based dementia-inclusion model within Greater Boston. Begun in 2010, this free, weekly program serves individuals from senior care residences, private homes, and adult day centers. The purpose of ITAV is to enable people with dementia to remain engaged and connected to society - reducing isolation while increasing feelings of self-worth and purpose.Supervised the development and training for the ARTZ Museum Network, a collaboration of twenty-five museums across the U.S. that offers free, weekly programs for people living with dementia and their care partners. Since its inception the program has benefited more than 8,000 people affected by dementia. ARTZ conceived and co-developed dementia-inclusion programs at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City (opened 2006) and the Louvre in Paris (opened 2007; developed with Cindy Barotte, PhD, Director & Founder of ARTZ Paris). Co-developed ‘Scripted Improv,’ an interactive theatre program for people living with dementia and care staff. Funded with a grant from the National Institute on Aging. Collaborated on the creation of ‘Meet Me at the Movies (MMATM)’ an interactive-film program for people with dementia and their care partners. Program first premiered at Tribeca Cinemas in New York City in 2007. Program has been performed in collaboration with the Denis Theatre in Pittsburgh, Frye Museum in Seattle, Coolidge Corner Theatre in Boston, and the Vogue Theatre in San Francisco. MMATM serves approximately 1,500 people annually. In June 2015 the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) allocated $20,000 for researchers to evaluate the MMATM program.