LIVEMemorable Moments - The Olympian's Way
Memorable Moments – The Olympian’s Way brings live music, arts, and intergenerational connection into our community partner elderly facilities each week, transforming care homes into vibrant spaces of joy and dignity. Every session is a celebration of legacy and togetherness—complete with delicious Caribbean cuisine from Jerk Wings Cafe—ensuring our elders are nourished in both body and spirit while artists and youth honor their stories through creativity and heart.
What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?
Health care access
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
Long Beach South Bay Gateway Cities San Fernando Valley West LA San Gabriel Valley South LA East LA Central LA
In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?
Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)
What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?
Many seniors in care facilities experience profound loneliness and emotional isolation, often going long periods without visitors, cultural enrichment, or meaningful interaction. This leads to cognitive decline, depression, and a sense of invisibility. At the same time, local artists and youth seek purpose-driven engagement but lack organized pathways to connect with elders. The lack of consistent, joyful community involvement for seniors is both a public health and human dignity issue, especially in high-need areas of Los Angeles. Memorable Moments addresses this gap by fostering intergenerational connections and restoring seniors’ sense of value through arts and shared experiences.
Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.
Memorable Moments is a community-powered initiative bringing monthly (or bi-monthly) events with music, games, storytelling, and creative activities to seniors in care homes across West Adams, Crenshaw, Inglewood, and South LA. Local musicians, poets, dancers, and storytellers perform songs and stories from the seniors’ era, spark memories, and invite participation through sing-alongs, group poems, and interactive games. The program integrates 10P Emotional Literacy, training artists and youth in empathy-based, trauma-sensitive engagement, and providing seniors with tools for emotional expression. Each event is designed to foster joy, dignity, and connection, while giving artists and youth a meaningful way to honor and learn from elders. A program coordinator manages logistics, and all participants receive orientation and support. The initiative culminates in a community showcase, celebrating seniors and performers, and aims to transform care homes into vibrant spaces of creativity and love.
Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.
If successful, Memorable Moments will transform how LA County views and supports aging. Care facilities will feel less institutional, becoming centers of creativity, connection, and joy. Seniors will experience increased engagement, well-being, and a renewed sense of worth. Local artists and youth will gain opportunities for purpose-driven service and growth. The program will help weave a tighter social fabric—one where no generation is left behind and everyone has a role in each other’s joy—setting a model for community-powered, arts-based engagement countywide.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?
Direct Impact: 500
Indirect Impact: 1,500