Families caring for loved ones with dementia will soon have access to additional education, workplace resources, and community support thanks to a new grant awarded to a local nonprofit.
My Natural Me has received a $35,000 grant from the Potomac Health Foundation to launch the Northern Virginia Dementia Support & Workplace Alliance: A Preventative Wellness Initiative, an effort designed to strengthen support for caregivers, individuals living with dementia, employers, and community organizations across Northern Virginia.
The initiative comes at a time when dementia diagnoses continue to increase, leaving many families balancing caregiving responsibilities with careers and everyday life. Through the grant, My Natural Me will expand educational programming, workplace awareness efforts, community partnerships, and resource navigation to help caregivers access the support they need.
“This grant represents so much more than funding,” said Liletta Harlem, founder and president of My Natural Me. “It is an investment in caregivers who often carry an invisible burden. By bringing together community organizations, employers, and local leaders, we can ensure caregivers and families receive the education, support, and resources they deserve while building healthier communities across Northern Virginia.”
The initiative will include caregiver education programs, workplace training, community outreach, resource navigation, and collaborative partnerships aimed at creating more dementia-informed workplaces and communities while encouraging early intervention and reducing stigma surrounding dementia.
My Natural Me also recognized the organizations and community leaders that helped make the initiative possible, including RAFT, Jirani Coffeehouse, the City of Manassas Police Department, the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, the Prince William County Senior Services Department, Manassas Mayor Michelle Davis, along with numerous caregivers, volunteers, advocates, and community partners.
Founded on the principle that “People Come Before Programs,” My Natural Me develops initiatives focused on wellness, caregiving, leadership, and community connection. The nonprofit’s mission is summarized in three guiding principles: We Heal. We Lead. We Connect.
For more information about My Natural Me and its programs, visit mynaturalme.com.
Rebecca Barnes is the Publisher of Prince William Living magazine and Brides & Weddings magazine. She is a lifelong resident of Prince William and a volunteer with OWL VFD. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her blended family, being a Grandma, visiting Walt Disney World, reading, and sleeping.
