At the JCC, we often speak about the power of connection, and recently, that value came to life in a particularly meaningful way through one of our Squirrel Hill Memory Café gatherings, funded by the Jewish Healthcare Foundation.
This past Monday, Melissa Hiller, the JCC’s Community Engagement and Development Officer, led participants – those experiencing memory loss alongside their care partners – through an engaging and thoughtfully designed exploration of art. Inspired by pioneering dementia-friendly programs like Meet Me at MoMA at The Museum of Modern Art and In the Moment at the Carnegie Museum of Art, the experience draws on a model that rethinks how we connect with people living with memory loss, moving away from fact-based responses and toward open conversation, curiosity, and personal response.
At its core, art gives people that way in. Research shows making art or reflecting on art objects can engage different parts of the brain at once, sometimes sparking a memory, sometimes just shifting a mood or making it easier to connect, which you could feel in the room. No one was being quizzed or put on the spot; they were invited to look, react, and share whatever came to mind. Moments of connection, reflection, and joy opened up in the room in a natural way.
Centered around the theme “Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland,” Melissa guided participants through a brief history of Coney Island, NY, paired with five contrasting works of art depicting the iconic beach and boardwalk. What made the session so special, however, was not just what participants saw, but what they felt, remembered, and shared.
Through observation, thoughtful prompts, and multisensory “props,” such as the texture of sand and towels, the familiar scent of suntan lotion, even the playful movement of a beach ball, participants were invited to tap into their own lived experiences. The result was a lively, heartfelt exchange of stories and impressions. As it turns out, nearly everyone has a beach memory, and those memories became the bridge to connection for those in the room.
These art-based conversations are powerful because they meet people where they are. They spark curiosity, encourage self-expression, and create moments of genuine engagement and belonging for both participants and their care partners.
It never ceases to amaze me how our staff integrate previous experiences and best practices from across different fields and disciplines to create relevant and transformative programming here at the JCC. Thanks to Melissa and Hillary Green, Program Coordinator with AgeWell at the JCC, and so many of our staff, for reminding us that connection, creativity, and dignity remain not only possible, but essential at every stage of life.
Wishing you and your families a Shabbat shalom,
Jason