As the University of Wisconsin–Madison commemorated its 175th anniversary, an extra special melody of community and hope echoed through the campus halls, courtesy of The Amazing Grace Chorus®. The chorus, a community outreach program hosted by the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute Regional Milwaukee Office, features people living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia and family caregivers. The members meet in person in Milwaukee for rehearsals and perform at multiple community events every year. More than just a singing group, the program is also a way to provide resources, information and support to people living with memory impairment.
On Saturday, April 6, the chorus and Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute were invited to participate in a campus open house event celebrating UW–Madison’s 175th anniversary. The chorus traveled to Madison and performed twice in the auditorium of the Genetics-Biotechnology Center Building. It was a unique experience for the program, which includes UW–Madison alumni, to participate in an event commemorating their alma mater.
Gina Green-Harris, director of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute Regional Milwaukee Office, spoke at the event. She said for the members of the Amazing Grace Chorus, being part of the campus celebration was a recognition of their work. “These members are trailblazers,” she said. “They are using their voices and showing us they have purpose, and they’re guiding us and showing a diagnosis of dementia does not diminish a person’s ability to participate.”
The event was a part of more than 70 campus events held the weekend of April 5-8. More details about The Amazing Grace Chorus is available on their webpage. New members are welcome and members of the public are welcome to join in and sing along with their live-streamed performances, held twice each month this spring.
