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Illinois Chapter shines the spotlight on Hispanic co-workers during Hispanic Heritage Month


Genesis Villalobos has been with the Alzheimer's Association for 3.5 years, working as a Navigator for the US POINTER Study. She helps participants follow the study's healthy lifestyle recommendations, which include regular exercise, brain stimulation, and a brain-healthy diet. Her interest in this role is personal—her paternal grandfather had Alzheimer's, and her dad's stroke history, she knows he and her family face similar risks.


She is a second-generation Mexican-American, born to parents from a town in Los Altos de Jalisco. Her family jokes about being short despite coming from "Los Altos," which translates to "the heights."


Fun facts:

She helped start the first Ballet Folklorico club at Northwestern University, fulfilling her childhood dream of dancing in the beautiful dresses! Ballet Folklorico features the traditional Mexican dance styles and attire from different regions of Mexico. The club is still active today, which makes her so proud. Here is a picture of her last performance (the one in yellow)


Salvador (Sal) Bayron has been with the Alzheimer's Association Illinois Chapter for over 17 years in various technical and strategic roles. Over the past five years, his responsibilities have broadened beyond the Chapter level and expanded regionally into both the Indiana and Kentucky Chapters where he provides them with ongoing digital support. He enjoys what he does thanks to the people he works with along with a cause he strongly believes in.


Fun facts: He played multiple instruments including violin and drums, but ultimately found his musical niche as a DJ, which he did for nearly 20 years.


Wendy De Leon is a mobile care consultant at the Alzheimer's Association, where she has worked for two years. She currently provides one-on-one care consultations in English and Spanish to individuals in Black and Brown communities in the Chicagoland area. She also oversees the promotores program, aimed at training Spanish-speaking individuals on Alzheimer's Association resources and information in order for them to share with their community.   


Fun facts:

Wendy's family is from a small town in Guatemala that has the oldest church in Central America. 

Wendy is passively learning how to speak French.



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Alzheimer's Association Illinois Chapter

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Lisle, IL 60532

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