CultureSource Launches Exhale Memory Café Collective to Support Caregivers and Their Loved Ones Living with Memory Loss
A caregiver support initiative in partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation helps caregivers find creative respite, community, and connection while supporting loved ones living with memory loss.
CultureSource is proud to announce the launch of the Exhale Memory Café Collective. In partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, the program connects Southeast Michigan’s cultural organizations with the tools, training, and financial support needed to create and sustain Memory Cafés—welcoming spaces that foster creative engagement, connection, and respite.
“Caregivers often share that the demands of appointments, planning and medication schedules can overshadow the heart of their relationship with their loved one,” said Misha Stallworth West, Program Officer for Caregivers at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “Memory cafés give caregivers and their care partners a space to set those responsibilities aside, even if just for a moment, and to center joy and connection instead. They offer a breath of relief – a place for caregivers and their loved ones to reconnect through shared laughter, art and music, while building mutual support with others on the same journey.”
About the Program
Running from September 2025 through March 2027, the Exhale Memory Café Collective builds on two completed phases of foundational work. Over the past six months, CultureSource has convened partners across Southeast Michigan to raise awareness about dementia-friendly programming, recruit participating organizations, and deliver training workshops on aging accessibility and program design.
Sixteen organizations completed the training and were awarded grants totaling $420,970 to put their learning into practice, some starting brand-new programs and others expanding existing ones. All sites will receive continued technical support and opportunities for shared learning throughout the initiative.
Announcing the Grant Recipients
CultureSource is proud to introduce the inaugural Exhale Memory Café Collective cohort. Together, these organizations will bring new and expanded Memory Café programs to communities across Southeast Michigan.
- Anton Art Center – Afternoon at the Anton
- Belleville Area District Library – BADL Memory Cafe
- Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center – Memory Café @ the BBAC
- Chaldean Community Foundation – CHAI Café
- Detroit Symphony Orchestra – Legato Memory Cafe
- Great Lakes Taiko Center – Taiko Play Memory Cafe
- Jo’s Gallery Cafe – Jo’s Gallery Memory Cafe
- Macomb Symphony Orchestra – MSO’s The Magic of Music Memory Cafe
- Meet Me With Art – Meet Me With The Arts Memory Cafe
- Metropolitan Museum of Design Detroit – Collab Cafe
- N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art – Circle of Friends Art Café
- Northville Art House – Creative Connections: A Visual Arts Memory Cafe and Creative Connections: A Musical Memory Cafe
- Norwest Community Collaborative – Memory Mosaic
- OPC Activity Center – OPC Memory Café
- Paint a Miracle – Paint a Miracle Memory Cafe
- Temate Institute for Black Dance and Culture – The Sankofa Circle
Why Memory Cafés?
“Memory Cafés remind us that the arts can be a profound source of belonging and wellbeing,” said Njeri Rutherford, Program Manager at CultureSource. “This collective brings together organizations that are ready to imagine new ways to care for and connect with aging community members through creative expression.”
Memory Cafés are community-based gatherings where people living with memory loss and their caregivers can relax, connect, and enjoy creative activities together. Through music, art, and conversation, these events offer moments of joy and engagement for participants, while giving caregivers a supportive space to breathe and feel less alone. Replicated worldwide, the memory café model can be offered in a wide range of settings and feature a wide range of programming.
Get Involved
Community members can participate in upcoming Memory Café gatherings hosted by cohort organizations serving Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Monroe, Livingston, and St. Clair counties. Each café offers welcoming, creative programs designed for people living with memory loss and their care partners.
Visit the websites and social media channels of participating organizations for event details and programming schedules. To follow future program updates, inspiring stories, and new café launches, visit culturesource.org/memory-cafe-collective for 2026 announcements and highlights.
