Our Center has a strong emphasis on recruiting underrepresented minorities into dementia research. We are pleased to have launched a Detroit Advisory Group this year, to promote recruitment of African Americans in the metro Detroit area.
The Detroit Advisory Group is led by Center Associate Director, Dr. Bruno Giordani, Center Junior Investigator, Dr. Lenette Jones, and Assistant Professor at the University of Detroit Mercy and President of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., Dr. Nutrena Tate. Group leadership, along with other members from the Center and the Detroit community, convened earlier this year to discuss the mission of the group. This mission includes developing relationships with community organizations and identifying community champions in Detroit, forming close relationships with Chi Eta Phi Sorority to provide education and gain interest in research opportunities, identifying men’s organizations and champions to enhance African American male recruitment, and developing educational sessions and materials tailored to underrepresented minorities in research.
Since the initial meeting earlier this year, we are happy to report several successes:
Hiring of New Center Education Program Coordinator
Amber Williams, MSA, joined the Center as the Education Program Coordinator in May 2019 and will be the Center lead for the Detroit Advisory Group’s programs. Amber works with clinical and outreach faculty and staff to enhance recruitment into research studies, especially recruitment from underrepresented groups. She continues to build already established connections with a particular focus on African American organizations in metro Detroit.
Presentations at Two Chi Eta Phi Sorority Education Events
The Detroit Advisory Group leadership organized two education events for Chi Eta Phi Sorority nurses in Detroit this July. Dr. Edna Rose presented to the group on Alzheimer’s disease at these events before the group broke out for roundtable discussion facilitated by Dr. Nutrena Tate, Dr. Lenette Jones, and Amber Williams. The discussion provided all attendees with the opportunity discuss African Americans’ reluctance to participate in research and what must be done moving forward. We look forward to our partnership with the Chi Eta Phi Sorority nurses on this endeavor!
Launch of Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Speaker Series
In an effort to educate the Detroit and Ann Arbor communities on research and enhance recruitment statewide, the Detroit Advisory Group will launch a series of educational events for the public on various aging-related topics. We are happy to announce that this series will begin August 2019. Monthly events will occur in Detroit and Ann Arbor. More information on the Speaker Series can be found on page 12.
We are thrilled with the success of the Detroit Advisory Group so far this year, and look forward to sharing about our continued involvement in the Detroit community.
