WEBINAR 5

Caring Through Generations: Supporting Youth and Family Caregivers

Alzheimer’s Disease Community Webinar 5 of 6

Join Links2Equity on Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 6 PM to 7 PM EST for the live virtual Alzheimer’s Disease Community Webinar Series event “Caring Through Generations: Supporting Youth and Family Caregivers.” This important conversation will highlight the experiences of caregivers in Black communities, particularly the often-overlooked voices of youth caregivers. Through the lens of personal experience and advocacy, we’ll explore how to better support young people caring for loved one’s living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, and discuss the emotional, educational, and community-based tools they need to thrive.

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Register Now for Webinar 5 and Secure Your Spot!

What to expect:

Learn about the lived experiences of intergenerational caregivers.
Explore the unique challenges and strengths of youth caregivers, and how to build support systems that uplift them and their families.
Discuss how the Melanin Minded Foundation is helping to shift the narrative around dementia in Black communities.

Guest Speakers

Our featured guests are Dr. Bashir Easter and Jaden Easter of Melanin Minded Foundation, a father-son duo dedicated to raising awareness about dementia and advocating for Black youth caregivers.

Dr. Bashir Easter, PhD

Dr. Bashir Easter is a scholar, entrepreneur, and community leader committed to improving the quality of life for people of color. He is the founder of Melanin Minded LLC and the Melanin Minded Foundation, which provide culturally relevant resources to empower marginalized communities and promote equity and well-being.

Dr. Easter holds a PhD in Multidisciplinary Human Services from Capella University, where he published groundbreaking research on African American adolescents caring for relatives with dementia. His study highlights the unique burdens faced by young caregivers in communities of color and underscores the need for targeted support.

Dr. Easter has led the development of an innovative initiative in Milwaukee, Wisconsin—Dementia Villages—designed to build Dementia-Friendly Communities that specifically support the unique needs of individuals of color living with dementia and their caregivers. Through this work and his leadership at Melanin Minded, he champions systemic change and community empowerment. His vision is to create inclusive spaces where all individuals have access to the support and tools they need to thrive.

Jaden Easter

Jaden Easter, a recent high school graduate from Texas, passionately advocates for young caregivers, his passion shaped by caring for his grandmother, Mrs. Deloris Pitts, who received a frontotemporal dementia diagnosis at age 55. Over the course of eight years, Jaden stepped into the role of caregiver alongside his siblings, gaining a deep understanding of the emotional and practical challenges young caregivers face—often while remaining unseen and unsupported.

Now serving as the Young Adult Outreach Coordinator for Melanin Minded LLC, Jaden leads the Bridge Youth Program, which provides a platform for teens and young adult caregivers to share their stories, access resources, and find community. Driven by personal experience and a passion for change, Jaden focuses on amplifying the voices of young caregivers often overlooked in caregiving conversations. Through his advocacy, he is building a supportive network, raising awareness about their unique challenges, and honoring his grandmother’s legacy by inspiring a new generation of empowered, compassionate youth.

Advisory Board Members

Shermeicka Bacon

Tennessee

James Thurman

Zion Baptist Church
Paris, KY

Gene Banks

North Carolina

Joseph Owens

Shiloh Baptist Church
Lexington, KY

Jacquelyn Lee

Frankfort/Lexington (KY) Chapter
of The Links, Incorporated

Cheryl Teare

Washington (DC) Chapter
of The Links, Incorporated

Rosalind Daniel-Walker

Mount Rose (MD) Chapter
of The Links, Incorporated

Gina Haynes-Sanders