Alzheimer's Association African American Conference

Release The Silence

Alzheimer's Association Annual African American Conference

Saturday | April 25, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
(Doors open at 9am)

UIC Forum

1213 S. Halsted St.

Chicago, IL 60607

Overview

The Release the Silence conference is designed to help our community navigate the Alzheimer's and dementia journey. It is geared towards caregivers, future caregivers, and healthcare professionals who are looking for resources and support in the Black and African American community. During the conference, attendees will get to hear firsthand from experienced caregivers, learn about resources available to help with caring for a loved one, and have the opportunity to make connections with others for support.

The Release the Silence Planning Committee is in the midst of planning the sessions for the conference. Please visit the conference’s website later to see a breakdown of the agenda and participating vendors.

This event is free to attend and will include a continental breakfast and a light lunch fair. Keep an eye out in the new year for when registration opens up.

This event was developed in partnership with: Chi Eta Phi, Alpha Eta Chapter, the Scottish Rite Prince Hall Masons, and our conference Planning Committee made up of local leaders, pastors, and caregivers. Take a look at their bios below.

Join us in Releasing The Silence as we fight Alzheimer's and dementia together.

Agenda

9am

Doors Open

9-10am

Breakfast Available & Vendor Fair

10-10:10am

Opening Remarks

10:10-10:15am

Vendor Spotlight

10:15-11:10am

The Empowered Caregiver: Effective Communicating & Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors

11:10-11:15am

Vendor Spotlight

11:15am-12:10pm

Building Your Care Team Panel Discussion

12:10-12:15pm

Vendor Spotlight

12:15-12:30pm

Brain Health & Risk Reduction

12:30-12:35pm

Vendor Spotlight

12:35-12:55pm

Activity

12:55-1pm

Closing Remarks

1-1:30pm

Lunch Available

1:30-2:30pm

Breakout Sessions
(Early/Mid-Stage Considerations and Late-Stage Considerations)

Planning Committee

Carol Shaw-Burns, Ph.D.

Carol is the Corporate Director of Resident Services at Vi Living which is a continuing care retirement organization that serves ten locations throughout the United States. She oversees resident health, safety, and well-being initiatives within the continuum of care which includes independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing. Carol received her Doctorate in Human Services Administration from Walden University. She is a licensed nursing home administrator and certified as a dementia care practitioner through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Carol is also a board member for the Alzheimer’s Association - Illinois Chapter. In addition, she is the former Chair of the Illinois Women Conquer Alzheimer’s and has been on the Release the Silence: African American Conference steering committee since its inception.

Ray Willis

Ray Willis is a graduate of Kansas State University (Master’s Degree in Regional and Community Planning) and retired as the Director of Community Planning and Development for the Chicago Office of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Ray had responsibility and oversight for one of the Department’s largest portfolios of community development programs, administering an annual budget in excess of $1 Billion, with a staff of 20+ professionals that included Accounts, Urban Planners and Social Workers.Prior to joining HUD, Ray worked for state government in Ohio, the Housing Authority of Kansas City, Kansas, and served as Assistant Professor of Regional and Community Planning at Kansas State University.

Additionally, Ray has served as a Director on several nonprofit Boards in Chicago,

including Blue Gargoyle Community Services, Hyde Park Neighborhood Club,

Community Renewal Society, and, most recently selected to serve on the Board of the

Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. In addition, Ray established the “Ray

Scholarship Fund” five years ago in the College of Architecture, Planning and Design,

Kansas State University, for African American, Native American and Hispanic students

pursuing a Master’s Degree in Regional and Community Planning. To date, seven

students have benefited from the Scholarship Fund. Ray is a 33 rd Degree Mason and is currently active with the Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois, Prince Hall Affiliated. Ray has been a Member/Docent with the Chicago Architecture Center since 1993. Ray is also a Member of Toastmasters International and has attained the Distinguished Toastmaster Award (DTM) which is the highest award bestowed upon its Members. Ray is married to Marilyn Adderley of Bermuda and proud parents of a daughter and son.

Renee Kroplewski

Renée is a passionate licensed social worker who has always loved working with older adults and their families. She has spent her career addressing complex issues of older adults in various roles, be it creating online programming to being a Memory Care Director, even working with Chronic Care Management within a leading healthcare network. Currently, she is the Administrative Director for the SHARE network through the University of Chicago. Her work there helps promote healthy aging through resources and community education. She also sits on the Steering Committee for the Illinois Women Conquer Alzheimer’s board and is an active member of the advisory council for AgeGuide.

Darlene Humphrey, MS

Darlene Humphrey is the Senior Center Supervisor at The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, which is located on the far Southside of Chicago, IL, in the West Pullman Community. In her capacity, she provides a variety of services to the Kroc Center’s Older Adult members to keep them actively engaged in a variety of activities. She is an asset for her knowledge and awareness of programs, resources and services within the community.

Darlene views working for the Kroc Center as the Senior Center Supervisor as a blessing. It has afforded her the opportunity to make new friends and bring a diverse group of older members together in fellowship. Over the past 8 years she has worked closely with organizations within the community to help provide an array of activities, programs, and services to assist older members in changing their lifestyle, improving their health, and social and emotional well-being.

Darlene is an Administrative professional who has worked in both private and public sectors, with over 20 years of social service experience. The Salvation Army’s mission of spreading the love of Jesus Christ and meeting human needs without discrimination are an integral part of the Programs, Activities and Services that Darlene provides for Kroc older adult members.

Phyllis Timpo (Co-Chair)

Phyllis Timpo is a dedicated advocate with over 15 years of experience in fostering health equity within communities. Currently serving as the Director of Community Engagement at The Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Research Care (HAARC) Center at the University of Chicago, she spearheads initiatives to diversify research cohorts in National Institute of Aging funded programs and clinical trials. Phyllis specializes in cultivating partnerships between historically marginalized communities and academic research institutions, with the aim of mitigating health disparities among Black older adults. Her efforts concentrate on increasing awareness and research opportunities related to brain health, healthy aging, and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias within minoritized populations. Her primary objective is to address social determinants of health through community engagement.

Darby J. Morhardt, Ph.D, LCSW

Darby Morhardt, PhD, LCSW is Research Professor, Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease and Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Morhardt directs the Mesulam Center’s Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement Core, Psychosocial Initiatives, and the Miller Post-Graduate Social Work Fellowship in Neurocognitive Disorders. Areas of research include the experience of individuals and families living with dementia; the process of tailoring care to specific needs and symptoms; and the development and evaluation of psychosocial interventions. Dr. Morhardt has a long history of community engaged research to address inequities in dementia education, awareness, and research participation throughout Chicago especially with underrepresented groups. Appointed to the State of Illinois Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee since 2000 she contributes to the Illinois Alzheimer’s Disease State Plan and was a founding leader of the Illinois Cognitive Resources Network (Ilbrainhealth.org). Dr. Morhardt also serves on the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Elder Law, tasked to more effectively address the needs and legal issues of older adults.

Constance M. Daniels, RN

Constance M. Daniels is the Assistant Middle West Region Director for the Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporation, Alpha Eta Chapter, Incorp. in Chicago. Have been a member of Chi Eta Phi since 1994, taking on educating our communities focusing on various health disparities. Have been a Professional Registered Nurse for over fifty years holding a Master of Science in Human Services Administration, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Retired from Veterans Affairs Administration with twenty-six years of service in various positions such as Care Management, Utilization Review Management, Coordinator for the Homeless Support Program, Intensive Psychiatric Community Care, Acute Inpatient Nurse Manager, and Detoxification Unit. With retirement as Captain from the Army Nurse Corps of twenty-two years she has conducted educational classes on mental health, medication, family therapy and support groups.

Phyllis L. Rodgers

Phyllis L. Rodgers is founder and CEO of Peer Plus Education And Training Advocates. Peer Plus is a state registered 501 (3(C) . Since its commencement in 2002 Peer Plus has reached, and provided more than 4500 participants thru health awareness, seminars hosted by medical providers and other clinical staff, health fairs, screenings and educational programs.

Ms. Rodgers' long and demonstrated history as community and patient advocate laid the foundation for Peer Plus. In 2016 she became an Ambassador with the Washington-based Patient Centered Research Outcomes Institute (PCORI) and in 2017 became a member of the Patient Brigade with the University of Illinois' Cancer Center. In early 2019 Ms. Rodgers and her agency, in collaboration with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in a forum on “Conversations about Facts, Figures, and Cultural Diversity in Oncology”, which focused on the urgent need for people of all colors to be involved in clinical trials. In order to further and update skills to serve communities disproportionately impacted by the virus, Ms. Rodgers has also taken and successfully completed the ASTHO training for Contact Tracing for COVID-19. Peer Plus team of Ambassodors has diverse experience in health care with more than thirty years of service.

Peer Plus currently has partnerships with Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, Cologuard EXACT Science. The University of Chicago, The University of Illinois and several community based clinics and faith based institutions.

Tim Woods (Co-Chair)

Timothy (Tim) Woods was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. He’s a graduate of Tennessee State University with a dual degree in Economics and Finance. Tim is a husband and father of twin 9 year old sons. He’s employed with Oracle Corporation as a Consulting Practice Manager, Leading direct reports in 8 regions, as well as and embedded consultant for Cook County Health. Tim’s a member of the CommunityRx-Caregiver and sits on the SHARE Community Advisory Board. He’s the Treasurer of the Tennessee State University, Chicago Alumni Chapter, which focus on raising scholarships and mentoring students in the Chicagoland area. He’s also an entrepreneur of Nexttier Collision and Design, Inc. located in the Austin neighborhood. Tim’s greatest accomplishment in his life was to be a caregiver of his father the Late Ernest A. Woods, SR.

Penny Hill

Penny (Tillman) Hill is a creative and passionate community relations strategist with 15+ years of experience in government, and marketing executive management.

Penny is currently the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement for the Center for Better Aging at St. Bernard Hospital. As Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement, Penny is a visionary leader responsible for building, nurturing, and sustaining meaningful relationships with key stakeholders, organizations, and communities. Her role focuses on developing strategic collaborations, advancing the organization’s mission, and driving impactful community engagement initiatives. Penny holds a Master of Public Administration from Roosevelt University with a concentration in non-profit management, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Management from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.

Alva Kennedy

Alva Kennedy is an insightful and results-driven professional with an extensive background of partnering with corporations and non-profits to develop and deliver programs that benefit the community. Through her work, Alva strives to bring new vision, resources and ideas that will help organizations flourish and push their mission forward. Through program development, event planning, and relationship building, her goal is to help community partners understand how their support makes a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Alva has a Master of Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University. She is resides in Chicago with her husband, Aaron and son Aaron, Jr. Alva is also the proud daughter of Helen, who recently passed after a six year battle with Alzheimer’s.

Treasyri Williams Wood

Dr. Treasyri (pronounced “treasure”) Williams Wood resides & practices on the south side of Chicago, Illinois . She graduated from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo with a bachelor of science degree in audiology and speech-language pathology and later earned a master of arts degree in communicative sciences and disorders from Hampton University in Virginia. Dr. Williams Wood then obtained a clinical doctorate in speech-language pathology (SLPD) from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She has earned a wealth of professional experience in acute, inpatient, outpatient and skilled nursing settings, including at Shirley Ryan AblityLab Hospital, the nation's top Rehabilitation Institution.

Clinically, Dr. Williams Wood is passionate about developing person-centered interventions for individuals with aphasia, voice and cognitive-communication challenges as a result of neurogenic conditions and neurodegenerative disease. She specializes in teaching topics related to advocacy, neural basis of communication and cultural competency. Her research focuses on social determinants of health as they relate to individuals with neurogenic disorders of communication and their care partners. Dr. Williams Wood enjoys fostering partnerships to increase access among the under-served through holistic, culturally responsive care. She was elected to the American Speech and Hearing Association's Board of Directors as member at large in 2021 and is serving a 2 year term.

Pritay Washington

Pritay Washington is a Training and Technical Assistance Associate with Education Development Center (https://edc.org/), a global nonprofit with the mission to advance growth in the areas of education, health and workforce development. After serving as an early childhood administrator and consultant, Pritay transitioned to supporting both early childhood and school age care at the national level, expanding her work to include mental health, substance misuse and youth suicide prevention. An experienced facilitator, Pritay has presented a variety of topics, always with the goal of not only increasing participants’ subject matter knowledge but promoting self-awareness as well. Pritay is also a professional caregiver and new community educator with the Chicago chapter of Alzheimer’s Association, combining her lived experience caring for family members and her professional experience. A partner dance enthusiast, Pritay employs dance to explore and share the importance of healthy relationships and building community through her company, Dance Talks, LLC.

Ingrid Fowler-Wrather

Ingrid Fowler-Wrather is the Senior Program Coordinator for the Outreach, Recruitment, and Community Engagement Core at the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She is currently completing her Master of Healthcare Administration at Northwestern University.

In her role, Ingrid partners with community organizations, faith leaders, and healthcare stakeholders to expand dementia education, strengthen caregiver support, and increase culturally responsive outreach across Chicago. Her work centers on building trust, addressing disparities in Alzheimer’s awareness and research participation, and creating community-driven pathways to brain health. Ingrid is deeply committed to elevating underrepresented voices and fostering partnerships that ensure families navigating the Alzheimer’s journey are seen, supported, and empowered.

Sponsors & Vendors

UIC Forum Facility Policies

Please note that the UIC Forum does have a metal detector upon entry. Here is more information on their metal detector policy. The UIC Forum also has a bag policy. For more information on their bag policy, please visit this link.

Parking

Ample parking available in the lot across from the venue (off of Halsted and Roosevelt). Additional parking located two blocks west of the UIC Forum at 1135 S. Morgan St. Lot 5. The Release the Silence Conference will have volunteers available to escort attendees who are being dropped off near the front doors of the venue.

From the South:

I-94 W/Dan Ryan Expy.
Take Exit 52B toward Roosevelt Rd./Taylor St.
Stay straight to go onto Ruble St.
Turn left onto W. Roosevelt Rd.
End at 725 W. Roosevelt Rd.

From the North:

I-90 E/Kennedy Expy.
Take the Taylor St. exit 52A – toward Roosevelt Rd.
Stay straight to go onto S. Union Ave.
Turn right onto Roosevelt Rd.

From the East:

US – 41S/Edens Expy. becomes I-94 E
Merge onto I-90 E/ I-94 E
Take the Taylor St. exit – Exit 52 A – toward Roosevelt Rd.
Stay straight to go onto S. Union Ave.
Turn right onto W. Roosevelt Rd.

From the West:

I-290 E/Eisenhower Expy.
Merge onto I-90 E/ I-94 E
Take the Taylor St. exit 52A – toward Roosevelt Rd.
Stay straight to go onto S. Union Ave.
Turn right onto Roosevelt Rd.

Alzheimer's Association Illinois Chapter

2200 Cabot Dr., Suite 460

Lisle, IL 60532

Alzheimer's Association® 2026 | Security and Privacy Policy

Release The Silence

​UIC Forum

Overview

Agenda

Planning Committee

Sponsors & Vendors

UIC Forum Facility Policies

Parking

UIC Forum