On-site collaborators at the Memory Hub are organizations and people who care deeply about building a world in which people live well with memory loss – and who want to bring that vision to life, while working alongside others who share their passion. Learn more about Memory Hub on-site collaborators!
The UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center (Memory Hub Founding Organization) promotes the well-being of people with memory loss and their families through exceptional care, innovative research, and community transformation. With its signature strengths-based approach, the MBWC helps people with memory loss engage their potential, adapt and live well with memory loss. By founding and operating the Memory Hub as a place for dementia-friendly community, collaboration and impact, the MBWC aims to redefine what it means to live with memory loss, in alignment with its partners. MBWC offers support, education and engagement programming on-site at the Memory Hub.
Who's Who from the Memory and Brain Wellness Center
Marigrace Becker is the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center’s Program Manager for Community Education and Impact and director of the new Memory Hub. She is passionate about building dementia-friendly communities and excited by the way the Memory Hub creates new opportunities for collaboration and innovation. In her spare time, she enjoys running, bringing people together, and celebrating whenever possible.
Kris Rhoads is a neuropsychologist at the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center and founding member of the Memory Hub. He is most excited about partnering with people and families around making positive changes to live well with memory loss and is grateful to be able to take this work to the collaborative space that is the Memory Hub. In Kris' spare time, his world mainly revolves around his wife and daughter, their Chocolate Lab (Mango), and his community of fellow (mostly middle-aged) rock climbers.
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Deb Cayz is Operations Lead for the Memory Hub. Her role entails managing daily operations for the Memory Hub community ensuring a welcoming vibrant space, with systems fully functioning and always improving so that program, services and events meet their objectives to educate, engage, support and celebrate.
Katie Zeitler is the Program Manager for Dementia Friends Washington. As the Program Manager, she manages and supports the expansion of the Dementia Friends program throughout Washington state, working with leads in each county and tribe to bring on new Dementia Friends and Dementia Friends Champions. She enjoys meditation, rock climbing, hiking, painting, drawing cartoons, reading, and FaceTiming with her family.
Samantha Lafontaine is the Program Manager for ECHO Dementia. She is responsible for program implementation, including continuing medical education (CME) credit, and continuing developing community partnerships. She loves working within her local community; with a focus on organizations working within healthcare and animals.
Genevieve Wanucha is the communications specialist for the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center and the Memory Hub, who creates newsletters and manages the websites. At the Memory Hub, she is also the project lead of Maude’s Garden and coordinates the memory garden volunteers, communications, and planting. Genevieve is a mother and a botanical artist who works in watercolor and colored pencil.
For more than 10 years, the Frye Art Museum (Memory Hub Founding Partner) has offered Creative Aging programs for adults to engage in creative lifelong learning. Programs explore the rich potential of aging and offer opportunities to impact the community’s health and wellbeing. A founding partner, the Frye Art Museum welcomed the Memory Hub to operate on its campus and provided key support for its success. At the Memory Hub, the Frye Art Museum co-sponsors the monthly Alzheimer’s Café event, among other activities.
Who's Who from the Frye Art Museum
Lea Lovelace. Photo: Parker Deen
Lea Lovelace is the Associate Director of Creative Aging Programs at the Frye Art Museum. She helps facilitate the Alzheimer's Cafe at the Memory Hub as well as a host of dementia-friendly programs at The Frye. Lea's work is informed by two decades of experience in art education particularly serving aging populations. She's served as a teaching artist in senior living homes, community centers, museums and libraries, and an arts administrator in museums, arts organizations, and even a folk-art school. Lea has a passion for arts-based learning, community engagement and heart-centered work. The collaborative and empowering atmosphere of the Memory Hub and their partnership with the Frye Art Museum played a big part toward inspiring Lea's move from Iowa to Seattle for this position! Lea is a mother of two children and two dogs and in her spare time, loves exploring the beautiful landscape of the Pacific Northwest.
Formed in 1980, the Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. The Alzheimer’s Association also sponsors educational talks on-site and a monthly in-person caregiver support group.
Founded in 1997, Elderwise creates space for adults to age well through their adult day program, outreach programs, and special events held around the Puget Sound. Elderwise invites adults living with memory loss to creatively and meaningfully engage with each other through art, discussion, movement, and shared meals. At the Memory Hub, Elderwise offers their nationally award-winning arts-based adult day program Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Visit: Elderwise Day Program.
Who's Who from Elderwise
Annie Koziol has worked with Elderwise for many years and is now the Director. She enjoys the incredible opportunity of collaborating with the dementia-friendly organizations coming together at the Memory Hub. In her spare time, she gardens and has fun with her children, grandchild, and friends.
Sandy Sabersky is co-founder and board chair of Elderwise and is co-author of The Elderwise Way: A Different Approach to Life with Dementia. She enjoys being in community with participants in the Elderwise day program, and is happy to be a part of the Memory Hub team. Sandy enjoys being out in nature.
Janet Salsbury discovered her love of working with seniors while getting her Masters of Social Work at UW. Her first job in social work was discharge planning at a skilled nursing facility. She then worked with low-income seniors in independent living and as a contract social worker with a local senior village. Prior to geriatric and medical social work, Janet dabbled in residential landscape design after graduating from the UW Dept of Landscape Architecture. She is thrilled to be a part of the Elderwise and Memory Hub community that supports people with dementia and their families and friends.
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Claire Cuccio is the program coordinator for Elderwise at the Memory Hub. After 25 years in China, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal and Taiwan, Claire returned to the US with a cross-cultural appreciation of elders. Her deep interest in Elderwise also draws on her work in the arts and wellbeing that evolved in tandem with the NeuroArts Blueprint, most recently through a community building project at a Tibetan heritage school in Nepal and an international arts residency “Tools for the Crater” exploring depression. She holds a PhD in Japanese Literature from Stanford University and speaks Japanese and Mandarin.
Full Life Care is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with chronic illness and disabilities and supporting caregivers. Since the 1970s, they have helped thousands of individuals preserve their dignity, maintain their independence, and stay engaged in the community. They are a multifaceted organization with a range of programs throughout the Puget Sound, from homecare to adult day health services. At the Memory Hub, Full Life Care has provided dementia caregiver education, offering their evidence-based STAR-Full Life course. Visit: Dementia Training for Family Caregivers
At the Memory Hub, Kin On Health Care Center offers information, assistance and resources to Chinese-speaking individuals and families who may be impacted by dementia. They also provide Healthy Aging programs such as educational workshops, tai chi, karaoke and mahjong, for Chinese-speaking older adults to connect, learn and thrive. Visit: Chinese Healthy Aging Programs
Who's Who from Kin On Health Care Center
Faye Chien is the Director of Community Wellness and Social Services at Kin On. She is passionate about helping people flourish and is excited to be part of the Memory Hub community, supporting individuals with dementia and their caregivers. At Memory Hub, she supports the Chinese healthy aging programs and provides information, assistance, and support. Fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Taiwanese, Faye connects effectively with the diverse community she serves. In her spare time, she enjoys family, friends, and nature.
Michael Woo is a social worker at Kin On. He works with individuals and families that are impacted by dementia and related conditions and also provides consultation on social programs and long-term care services. He considers the opportunity of serving the community as an honor and a life-long learning experience. He is excited about collaborating with the Memory Hub and its partners to serve the needs of our community. Michael enjoys interacting with his cats during his free time.
Yiting Tan is a social service specialist at Kin On. She is passionate about helping individuals by providing them with information, assistance, and services to meet their needs. She is thrilled to be part of The Memory Hub, where she can support Chinese-speaking individuals and families in the community impacted by dementia and facilitate Chinese healthy aging programs. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities.
