FATOU CEESAY

FOUNDER and PRESIDENT

Fatou Ceesay is Founder and President of Cairasu: All Things Alzheimer’s. Ms. Ceesay is also Owner and Manager of Cairasu Home Care. She is a native of The Gambia in West Africa and has been a resident of Madison, Wisconsin since 2001. Ms. Ceesay graduated from Edgewood College and the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She’s a proud mother of two children. For the past twenty years, Ceesay has worked with the elderly and disabled in all settings and in various capacities. She is a staunch advocate for Alzheimer’s and Dementia related issues and a proud recipient of Alzheimer’s Association’s 2017 Advocacy award. She was a nominee for the Business Forum’s 2014 ATHENA Young Professional Award. She serves on several nonprofit boards and is the Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Association, helping define and advocate for Alzheimer’s policy priorities. She enjoys family time, making meaningful contributions to the community, traveling, social outings, meeting new people, and building and nurturing relationships.

OZIOMA OKONKWO

VICE PRESIDENT

Dr. Ozioma Okonkwo is on the faculty of the Department of Medicine within the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He is dedicated to the scientific study of promising approaches to preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s disease or slowing its progression after disease onset.

SUSAN FREISS

SECRETARY

Susan Freiss is a semi-retired teacher and a community activist for social justice education. She accompanied her now deceased spouse on a 6 year dementia journey. She is passionate about learning from and within the challenges of life and celebrates the compassion and humor that is possible along the way!

SARA ALVARADO

Awareness and Outreach

Sara Alvarado is a Public Speaker, Teacher, Writer and Co-Conspirator in the intersection of racial justice and real estate. Her passion in the Alzheimer’s and Dementia field started from her own journey with her Mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 65, in 2013. Sara and her husband own a real estate brokerage together, are raising bilingual/bicultural children, and actively engaged in the community.

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Sara and her husband, Carlos, lead a thriving bilingual/bicultural family and a successful real estate business, Alvarado Real Estate Group. The success of their boutique real estate brokerage is based on Sara and Carlos’ founding beliefs, which have less to do with the number of transactions they close each year and everything to do with the relationships they build, the families they help and the impactful ways they’re able to inspire and engage with their community.

Sara spends a lot of time researching, writing and speaking about diversity, inclusivity and race. She has created the Conversation Challenge for parents who are ready to talk about race with their middle and high school children and is the co-creator of Step Up: Equity Matters, a community organization committed to sparking conversations and creating change around inequities in the workplace and community.

Being of service shows up in Sara’s community work too. She is a named founder of both Nuestro Mundo Community School and Badger Rock Middle School where she also served on the boards. She served on the local Realtor Association Board and Sustain Dane’s Board. Sara has been recognized in InBusiness Magazine’s 40 under 40 for (2013). Visit her website, www.saraalvarado.com to learn more and connect

Jen

Jen is a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience in inventory planning and management, having held various leadership positions at Lands’ End. In addition to their professional achievements, Jen has also been an active member of the nonprofit community, serving on multiple boards and committees to support various causes, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Jen’s personal experience caring for relatives with dementia has fueled their passion for advocating for those affected by the disease. Her unique perspective as both a caregiver and a business leader brings a valuable perspective to the Board of Directors for Alzheimer’s, and they are committed to making a meaningful impact in the fight against this devastating disease.