Deborah Fries, freelance writer for the Penn Memory Center InSight newsletter, has been awarded with the 2013 Sandy Crimmins National Prize for Poetry. A resident of Elkins Park, PA, Deborah was selected by judge and noted poet Dorothea Lasky. Philadelphia Stories' Poetry Editor Courtney Bambrick calls the winning poem "an evocative and transformative piece that exemplifies a commitment to storytelling through image and momentum." Deborah wins a cash prize of $1,000 and an invitation to the Party Like a Poet celebration on April 19 where she will be awarded with the prize. Out of the hundreds of poems Philadelphia Stories received, the poetry board and final judge selected Deborah Fries’ “Marie in America” for first place.

"This prize reflects the vibrancy of the Philadelphia literary community, and the serious support it provides to poets," says winner Deborah Fries. "I am very honored to be a recipient."

Read the full Philadelphia Stories article

On April 20 Penn Memory Center Director Dr. Steven Arnold and Felicia Greenfield, LCSW, will present at "The Aging Mind 101," a workshop hosted by the LGBT Elder Initiative. Memory loss, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive issues present unique challenges to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities as they age, and the LGBT Elder Initiative is hosting the event to address these issues. The event is part of the LGBTEI CONVERSATIONS series of informational programs, and it will address healthy aging and techniques for maintaining mental abilities, warning signs of disease states, the psychosocial implications for the patient, and issues facing their caregivers.

For more information about the LGBT Elder Initiative visit their website at www.lgbtei.org.