The Memory Collectors Storytelling Project (MCSP) was launched in 2022 in response to the disproportionately high rates of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in the Black community—nearly twice that of white Americans. Created to support the successful aging of Black women, the program focuses on promoting brain health, reducing stress, and strengthening social connections through creative arts such as quilting, storytelling, and writing. Its foundation is informed by emerging research, including findings from the Mayo Clinic, showing that artistic engagement can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

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MCSP was founded and is led by Catrina J. Sparkman, Artistic Director of the Creator’s Cottage and founder of IP Ministries in Madison, Wisconsin. With over 25 years of experience as a theater artist, authorpreneur, and community leader, Sparkman created MCSP to merge storytelling, cultural preservation, and health equity. The program is housed at the Creator’s Cottage and operates as an artist-led, community-centered initiative.

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The leadership team expanded in 2022 with Artist-in-Residence Alicia Rheal, a visual artist with over 40 years of experience, and in 2024 with educator and project manager Bianca Williams. Together, they have built a program that centers the voices, experiences, and well-being of Black women while remaining open and welcoming to participants of all backgrounds.