Through expert speakers, personal stories, and research-based insights, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how the intersection of culture, racial biases, and stigmatization of dementia influence the experiences of people living with dementia, which sheds light on dementia care and support systems. The webinar will offer practical strategies to address these challenges, foster inclusivity, and promote dignity in dementia research, care, and policy.

Learning objectives:

1. Understand the complexity of lived experience of intersection of culture, race, and dementia stigma.
2. Recognize the significance of inclusion of the voices of people with lived experiences in research, policies, and services
3. Acknowledge the importance of relationship building between people with lived experiences and researchers

The article “Living with dementia: Exploring the intersections of culture, race, and dementia, stigma” is published in Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice, and is part of the larger study Flipping the Stigma, which is funded by Canadian Institute of Health Research, co-led by Alison Phinney, Jim Mann, and Deborah O’Connor.

Speaker bios:

Karen Lok Yi Wong is a PhD candidate and sessional lecturer in social work at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests include the intersection of aging, race, culture, immigration, lived experiences of dementia, and aging and technology. She is also a registered social worker, working with older adults and their families in diverse settings, such as community senior services, long-term care, and geriatric hospitals.

Granville Johnson, B.Ed. (UVic), has been living with Vascular Dementia and Converted Disorder since 2011. A Black dual citizen of Canada and America, and a two-tour Vietnam War veteran (combat medic), Granville is a life-long artist, multimedia digital collage, musician, teacher, poet, short story writer, and novelist. He has been an outspoken Dementia Advocate for eight years, building resilience within the dementia journey by facilitating ethno-racial inclusivity in dementia research.