Following the screening, USC Leonard Davis alumna Petra Niles MSG ’92 and USC Family Caregiver Support Center Director Donna Benton took part in a panel discussion on the film and how Alzheimer’s disease impacts Black communities in Los Angeles.
In honor of Black History Month, the USC Leonard Davis School hosted a screening of Holding the Pieces, a film following one family’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease that shows how love and connection endure, on February 13.
Following the screening, the USC Leonard Davis School Cultural Committee and Alzheimer’s Los Angeles facilitated a panel discussion about the film and Alzheimer’s outreach for Black families. Research Associate Professor of Gerontology Donna Benton, Director of the USC Family Caregiver Support Center, was joined by Petra Niles MSG ’92, Associate Director of Education & Outreach, African American Community for Alzheimer’s Los Angeles and alumna of the USC Leonard Davis School, on the panel.
Niles, a producer of Holding the Pieces, discussed the making of the film and its portrayal of how love and resilience guide a Black family through the challenges of Alzheimer’s, navigating the healthcare system, and finding support. Older African Americans are about twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s or related dementia compared to older white individuals but are also much more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage than their white counterparts, she noted.
“We need to inform this community,” said Niles, whose work with Alzheimer’s Los Angeles involves meeting community members where they are and sharing information on early Alzheimer’s signs and resources for families. “I’m in churches, women’s groups, I’m all over the place.”
Benton added that African American families are more likely to be living with environmental factors associated with higher Alzheimer’s risk. She praised the film’s depiction of how the family members worked together to address challenges and find sources of care and support.
“This film really touched on how the family pulls together,” she said.
About Holding the Pieces
When Rose Yelder—a beloved mother and grandmother—begins showing signs of memory loss, her family is faced with difficult questions and emotional challenges as they navigate the healthcare system searching for answers.
Starring Juanita Jennings, Monnae Michaell, Aaron Jennings, and Jayani Jalese
Written by Courtney Stewart
Directed by Kimleigh Smith
