Kemba Bloodworth and Jenna Weiss-Berman were welcomed to the Alzheimer’s Association of the Carolinas. The staff provided them with an ideal, quiet place for recording conversations and databasing. Check out our nifty “quiet” signs.

While facilitating conversations, Kemba Bloodworth met Sylvia Fiano and Ann Copeland. Sylvia has been coping with memory loss through art. The first time she picked up a paintbrush was because of an association staff member’s encouragement. She donates most of her work to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association of the Carolinas and has yet to put the paintbrush down. A staff member gave Kemba and Jenna a tour of the association. A few pieces of Sylvia’s art work were displayed on their walls. Check out her art work!

Facilitators Kemba Bloodworth (L) and Jenna Weiss-Berman (R) rolled into Charlotte, North Carolina, to record the stories of any Charlotteans who would share them with us. We are working with Charlotte’s very helpful and supportive NPR station, WFAE.

Opening day brought in a wonderful array of southern charmers, including Alys Honey (L), 94, and her great great grand nephew, Michael Stuart (R), 11. Alys talked to Michael about how much the world has changed since she was his age. “You live in a world that I could have never dreamed of as a child,” Alys told Michael.

Angie Forde (L), 58, came to the booth with her friend Dawoud Assad (R), 62, to talk about his very interesting life as an internationally traveling electrician, his conversion to Islam, and his current predicament–Dawoud is homeless. After a home foreclosure a year and a half ago, Dawoud has been living on the streets of Charlotte. Dawoud never imagined this life for himself, but he told Angie that “homelessness can happen to anyone.” He recently got his Paralegal Degree and is currently looking for a job, and he gets support from our wonderful partner organization, the Charlotte Urban Ministry Center.