Page 70 - Iris Tennessee Teen Judges Book 2022

What can you do during your Tenure of Service as a Titleholder to impact your community?
As your new Miss Tennessee Iris Teen Volunteer, I have many ideas to get involved even more in my community! To further my platform of the Alzheimer’s Association, I would like to visit at least 100 schools in Tennessee to promote my platform. I would also like to hand out pamphlets that I am currently working on that helps kids cope with their loved one’s diagnosis. I want visit more Nursing homes/Doctor’s offices/Assisted living facilities to better help with resources for families that are being affected with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s can happen so suddenly, so I would like to help even more families learn to cope and learn ways to help their loved one that has been diagnosed.
What has been your involvement with your platform?
Visiting nursing homes/assisted living facilities in the Obion County area to help volunteer. Participating in fundraising for a local Alzheimer’s group in the West Tennessee area called ‘Forget Me Not Foundation’. This is a non-profit organization that helps local families obtain resources, attend group meetings, and if needed, find caretakers for their loved ones. After my great-grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, our family greatly benefited from what all this foundation offers, and I enjoy being able to help give back to them!
What inspired you to first become involved in your platform?
My great-grandmother, Imogene, was my inspiration for working with the Alzheimer’s Association. Imogene was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when I was around 10 years old. It was a confusing time in my life, because over time, the things we always did together, like baking, playing games, etc., slowly became impossible for her to do. Especially being so young, it was hard for me to understand why these things were not easy for her to do anymore. After she passed in 2018, it inspired me to get involved with the Alzheimer’s Association, and to also help kids understand Alzheimer’s and how to cope.
If you are selected as the winner, how would you mobilize and market your platform nationally?
If I am selected as the new Miss Tennessee Iris Teen Volunteer, I would like to mobilize my platform by working nationally with the Alzheimer’s Association. I would like to attend more fundraisers and be able to nationally distribute the pamphlets I am working on that help kids learn about Alzheimer’s, and give them resources on coping with this disease. My goal is to have my pamphlets distributed to nursing homes/doctor’s offices/and schools in every state! Another goal of mine is to have an online version of my pamphlet, that way it is accessible to more people! I want to also work with a publishing company to print a children’s book that helps explain Alzheimer’s in a way that is easily understood for children!
How would you utilize social media in order to positively further your position as a titleholder if you are selected as the winner?
Social media can be used in such a great way to reach a lot of people! I would like to further my titleholder position by creating a YouTube channel to make videos on Alzheimer’s, giving people tips to help cope with their loved one’s diagnosis. I would also like to utilize Instagram by going live once a week to give a “Tuesday Tip” or “Friday Fact”. These will be useful tips and facts on Instagram live, where people can also comment with questions. I would also like to include special guests in my videos who work in the healthcare industry and specialize in working with Alzheimer’s patients!