Page 27 - Gilbert Awards 6-Year Scrapbook

2013 Winner, Diverse/Multicultural Communities:

New Mexico Literary Arts - Santa Fe, NM

The mission of New Mexico Literary Arts is to inspire and develop the imaginative use of language and

to create opportunities for the integration of the literary arts with other artforms throughout New Mexico.

The organization, focused on becoming a culturally, poetically and socially relevant entity, was originally
granted non-profit status as the Poetry Center of New Mexico, but a new board with a broader mission

was formed in 1997 and the organization reincarnated as the NMLA. Website: www.nmliteraryarts.org

Program/Project:

Alzheimer’s Poetry

Project

The goal of the Alzheimer’s Poetry Project
(APP) is to improve the quality of life of

people living with Alzheimer’s disease

and related dementias by facilitating

creative expression through poetry.

Since 2003, APP has provided profes-
sional arts programming in 24 states and

internationally serving over 15,000 peo-

ple with early to late-stage dementia and

their caregivers. It also provides training

for professional caregivers and teaching

artists. The result has been an innovative,
highly replicable arts intervention to im-

prove the quality of life of people living

with dementia and their families.

Website: www.alzpoetry.com

“The use of poetry to stimulate memory appears to be something all the participants can relate to. The

Alzheimer’s Poetry Project helps with more than just memory, your program also promotes participants’

self esteen and social skills.”

- Lesley Halliday, of Isabella Geriatric (NYC)

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