April 2026 Edition: We are a Team!
Dear friend,
As those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, especially here in New York City, experience the mercurial nature of spring, with its exquisite bursts of color and fragrance alongside sudden shifts in temperature, I find myself reflecting on the environment and its profound impact on our brain health.
We know that brain health is not defined solely by internal biology or chemical processes. It is also shaped by the social and physical environments we inhabit.
This month, in preparation for an upcoming episode of Dancing into Brain Health, I spoke with dementia-inclusive designer and Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Macarena Espina Díaz. She shared how even the smallest elements of our surroundings—color, texture, spatial design—can meaningfully influence the wellbeing of those living with dementia.
Central to her work is an act of deep empathy: the ability to imagine herself in the lived experience of those she serves. To truly place herself in their shoes. Imagine if this was how we approached all of our relationships.
This interplay between the personal and the universal is a theme I’ve been sitting with this month. It echoes what we witness each week in our dance programs.
“We are a team.”
This reflection, shared by a participant in our Stories in the Moment program this month, speaks to the heart of our work. It captures the meaning found in co-creation, where each person contributes, where every role matters, and where something meaningful is built together.
In these small, shared moments, we witness, celebrate, and reflect on what becomes a collective masterpiece. Practiced week after week, this way of being begins to extend beyond the studio—shaping how we show up for one another in the world. This is how change happens: through an accumulation of small, intentional moments, co-designed and brought to life by a community working toward a shared vision.
Recently, one of our community members joined class just two days after surgery, sharing that being in this space offered a kind of healing she deeply needed. While this kind of impact may be difficult to measure, it is unmistakably felt.
Perhaps this, too, is a way of shaping inclusive environments—ones that spark brain health and nurture wellbeing. What if we allowed this feeling to guide how we define success? What if we placed it at the center of all our relationships—from our daily community practices to our advocacy with municipal, national, and global leaders whose decisions shape the environments we live in?
In this month’s newsletter, we celebrate the partners and champions who are helping to build such environments—where people living with dementia can truly thrive. You’ll also find highlights from DanceStream Projects’ invitation to participate in the inaugural CaringKind Conference, updates on local advocacy efforts to ensure the arts continue to shape our communities, and a glimpse of exciting new projects unfolding across New York City.
We can’t wait to dance with you.
In solidarity,
