The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers Hosted a Convening in Atlanta to Elevate Caregivers and Explore the Future of Caregiving

The one-day event featured compelling storytellers, national leaders, and grassroots advocates, all sharing novel approaches to caregiver support

ATLANTA (October 19, 2022) – The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers (RCI) hosted a convening on Oct. 12, 2022, at The Carter Center in Atlanta, GA. “Seize the Moment: Keeping Caregivers Visible,” was a day-long event that engaged stakeholders across sectors in a conversation about the future of caregiving and how it intersects with policy, the workforce, pop culture, and the media.

RCI’s founder and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, has been advocating for the health and wellbeing of family caregivers for more than 35 years, but she has never seen an opportunity like the one before us today. Everyone from lawmakers to celebrities and C-suite executives understands the value of our country’s 53 million caregivers, and in the words of Mrs. Carter, we must “seize the moment” to affect meaningful, systematic change.

“For nearly thirty-five years, RCI has quietly led research, influenced policy, and implemented nationwide programs to support family caregivers,” said Dr. Jennifer Olsen, chief executive officer of RCI. “Over the past two years, the essential role of caregivers has been elevated to the national stage. My hope for those who attended the convening is that they walked away empowered to lift the voices of family caregivers and are driven to find solutions to the crisis in caregiving.”

“Seize the Moment: Keeping Caregivers Visible” featured a mix of sessions focusing on caregiver issues in policy research; Mrs. Carter’s legacy on caregiving and mental health; caregivers in the workforce; and reducing the stigma and silence surrounding caregivers through traditional and social media. Journalists Richard Lui and Amara Walker kicked off the day with a conversation that included their own caregiving experiences. The day culminated with an exclusive first-cut film screening of Lui’s film Hidden Wounds.

“Seize the Moment: Keeping Caregivers Visible” Key Highlights:

Keynote Conversation

  • Richard Lui, award-winning journalist and filmmaker, MSNBC and NBC News
  • Amara Walker, anchor and correspondent, CNN

Introductory Remarks

  • The Honorable Denis McDonough, secretary, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
  • Mary Wilson, chair of the board and life trustee, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation

From the Margins to the Middle: Centering Caregivers in Policy and Research

  • Usha Tewari, grassroots advocate
  • Dr. Toni Miles, adjunct professor at Morehouse School of Medicine and visiting scholar at RCI
  • Dr. Megan Shepherd-Banigan, health research scientist at the Durham VA ADAPT and assistant professor at Duke University School of Medicine

A More Caring Society: Mrs. Carter’s Legacy on Caregiving and Mental Health

  • Judy Woodruff, host, PBS NewsHour
  • Josh Carter, host, Unchanging Principles

Working While Caring: How Employers Are Innovating Caregiver Supports

  • Dr. Debra Lerner, founder of the Program on Health, Work and Productivity, Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies at Tufts Medical Center, and professor at Tufts School of Medicine
  • Ashley Lewis, international servicing representative, United Auto Workers
  • Raju Parikh, benefits manager, Meta
  • Stacey Watson, SVP, Life Events, Fidelity Investments

Media Matters: How Traditional and Social Media Can Reduce Stigma and Elevate Stories of Care

  • Ishita Srivastava, chief of narrative & culture change, Caring Across Generations
  • Sara Luterman, caregiving reporter, The 19th
  • Jacquelyn Revere, social media influencer and caregiving storyteller, MomOfMyMom
  • Ellen Eldridge, senior healthcare reporter, Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB)

“Seize the Moment: Keeping Caregivers Visible” sponsors were the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, Pivotal Ventures, and The Carter Center.

To learn more about RCI, visit www.rosalynncarter.org.

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About the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers  
The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers was established in 1987 by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter to promote the health, strength, and resilience of caregivers throughout the United States. RCI fulfills its promise to champion the family caregiver by building cross-sector partnerships, developing and providing evidence-based programs and advocating for public policy.

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