MUSIC MENDS MINDS INC

MUSIC MENDS MINDS IS AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD, LA-BASED, GLOBAL NONPROFIT THAT ESTABLISHES AND RUNS FREE MUSIC THERAPY AND ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FACING NEURODEGENERATIVE ISSUES SUCH AS ALZHEIMER'S, PARKINSON'S, DEMENTIA, STROKE, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND PTSD. WHAT BEGAN IN LOS ANGELES IN 2014 WITH THE CREATION OF THE NOW FAMOUS 5TH DEMENTIA FLAGSHIP BAND IS NOW A MULTIFACETED, GLOBAL-FACING ORGANIZATION THAT REACHES OVER 5,000 PARTICIPANTS, CAREGIVERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS PER MONTH. ALONG WITH A GREAT MANY LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL IN-PERSON MUSIC GROUPS AND THRICE- WEEKLY MUSICAL THERAPY SESSIONS ON ZOOM, ALL OF THEM FREE, OUR NETWORK INCLUDES A BURGEONING STUDENT INTERN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM, AND A POPULAR INFORMATIONAL PODCAST SERIES, "MUSIC IS (SEE SCHEDULE O) MEDICINE, ASK THE EXPERTS".NEUROSCIENCE HAS LONG PROVEN THAT MUSIC INFLUENCES BRAIN CHEMISTRY. MOREOVER, OUR FAVORITE MUSIC CAN PROVIDE PERHAPS THE LAST NATURAL BRIDGE TO FADING MEMORIES, CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND PERSONAL IDENTITY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN OUR SENSES AND SOCIALIZATION SKILLS ARE COMPROMISED BY ILLNESS OR TRAUMA, OR THE CONTRARY SIDE EFFECTS OF INTENSE MEDICATIONS, SADLY THE RULE IN LONG TERM NEURODEGENERATIVE ILLNESSES. THE JOY, SELF-AWARENESS AND SENSE MEMORIES MUSIC NATURALLY BRINGS FORWARD CAN ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE STRESS, DEPRESSION AND HOUSEHOLD CHAOS THAT HAUNT THOSE CURSED WITH DIMINISHED MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL CAPACITY, MAKING HOMES AND CAREGIVING SAFER AND MORE SATISFYING.THIS MEANS THE IMPACT MUSIC MENDS MINDS CAN AND MUST HAVE, SOCIETY-WIDE, IS NOW MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN EVER. WITH ALL THIS IN MIND, MMM ADVOCATES THAT MAKING MUSIC ENGAGEMENT AND THERAPY FOR SENIORS, AND ULTIMATELY FOR ALL, SHOULD BE NOTHING LESS THAN A PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED BY PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES. IN FACT, THE COSTS SAVED BY TAXPAYERS FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL ER VISIT OR EMT CALL THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN WOULD OFFSET THE COST OF A YEAR OF WEEKLY MMM MUSIC GROUPS IN A COMMUNITY SENIOR CENTER. OUR LOCAL, NATIONAL AND GLOBAL EXPANSION CONTINUES TO BE SIGNIFICANT. ALONG WITH OUR FIFTEEN CURRENT GROUPS IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA, WE NOW HAVE SEVERAL GROUPS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, AS WELL AS IN WASHINGTON, UTAH, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, MARYLAND AND, SOON, GEORGIA AND FLORIDA. INTERNATIONALLY, IN GREAT PART DUE TO OUR ROTARY CLUB AFFILIATIONS, WE'VE BEEN ACTIVE IN ELEVEN COUNTRIES, INCLUDING FOUR NEW GROUPS IN TOKYO, JAPAN. THAT WE HAVE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN A VARIETY OF COUNTRIES LIKE ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, CAMBODIA, CANADA, RWANDA AND THE PHILIPPINES IS GREAT PROOF OF THE POWER OF MUSIC TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND BOTH AUSTRALIA AND CHINA MAY BE COMING INTO THE FOLD IN THE NEAR FUTURE.ALONG WITH OUR FREE MUSIC GROUPS IN CIVIC SENIOR CENTERS, LIBRARY SYSTEMS, RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES AND MEMORY CARE CENTERS IN LOS ANGELES AND IN THE BAY AREA OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, OFTEN WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE HAVE NOW BEEN INVITED TO DO DRUM CIRCLES IN ADULT SPECIAL NEEDS FACILITIES. WHILE OUR MAIN FOCUS REMAINS ON ESTABLISHING MORE FREE MUSIC GROUPS AT HOME AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD, OFFERING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE KIND OF JOY, CREATIVITY AND SOCIALIZATION OFTEN LOST TO SENIORS WITH NEURODEGENERATIVE ILLNESSES AND CHALLENGES, OUR DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP WITH ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CLUBS AND ACTION GROUPS, SUCH AS ADRAG (ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA ROTARY ACTION GROUP) AND IFRM (INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ROTARY MUSICIANS) ARE STRENGTHENING THE POWER OF OUR GLOBAL ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH CONNECTIONS, MAKING MMM AN EVER-MORE IMPORTANT VOICE IN THE MUSIC AND MIND WORLD.