First Community Health Foundation

THE VICTORY CHORUSTHE VICTORY CHORUS SUPPORTS THE INITIATIVE OF BECOMING A DEMENTIA FRIENDLY COMMUNITY.THE CHORUS OFFERS THE RESIDENTS OF DULUTH WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY DEMENTIA WITH A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD CONNECTIONS, SEEK JOY AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH SONG. THE CHORUS PROVIDES A VENUE FOR CAREGIVERS AND PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SHARED EXPERIENCE WHICH PROMOTES THEIR STRENGTHS AND ABILITIES DESPITE DISEASE. THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN REHEARSALS AND PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, THE CHORUS PROMOTES SELF-DISCOVERY, LEARNING, LAUGHTER AND A SENSE OF INCLUSION.COVID CONTINUED TO PRESENT CHALLENGES FOR THE CHORUS IN 2021. LIKE MANY ORGANIZATIONS, VICTORY CHORUS HAD TO ADAPT ITS PROGRAM FORMAT THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN 2020, AND THEN IN 2021 A SINGALONG FORMAT WAS IMPLEMENTED. AS VACCINES WERE MADE AVAILABLE, THE VICTORY CHORUS WAS INVITED TO ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES FOR WINDOW SERENADES AND LATER FOR MASKED SINGALONGS.

DEMENTIA FRIENDLY DULUTH (DFD)OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY MORE AWARE, INFORMED, SENSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING AND CARING FOR THOSE WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND OTHER FORMS OF DEMENTIA.OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO IMPROVE AWARENESS OF THE RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR FAMILIES AND INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF DEMENTIA ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.DFD ESTABLISHED AND FACILITATES DEMENTIA COLLABORATIVE MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES. THE COLLABORATION WAS FORMED AS A PROGRAM OF DFD FOR THE PURPOSE OF NETWORKING, SHARING, IDEA GENERATING, AND GROUP ACTIONS ACROSS COMMUNITY.CURRENT PRIORITY AREAS - DEMENTIA CHORUS SIMILAR TO THE GIVING VOICE CHORUS, DEMENTIA FRIENDS TRAINING ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, YOUTH OUTREACH, RESIDENTIAL AND MEDICAL FACILITY STAFF TRAINING, SUPPORT RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA AND CAREGIVERS, TRANSPORTATION, AND LIBRARY COLLABORATION.