Caregiving is a topic that touches everyone. Millions of Americans serve as caregivers to loved ones — often without being recognized. It is both a rewarding and a demanding role.

In conjunction with “Caregiving,” a PBS documentary by Academy Award-nominated actor Bradley Cooper, Detroit PBS held a virtual town hall on, examining the challenges, needs and successes of being a caregiver. The town hall was presented by American Black Journal’s “Black Church in Detroit” initiative and moderated by the show’s host Stephen Henderson.

Town Hall guests include Dr. Marilyn French Hubbard, who heads up the Detroit Family Caregivers’ Project, a collaboration with Detroit’s Black churches. The program provides training, support, resources and referrals to church leaders and members of the caregiving ministries to share with their congregations. We’ll talk with two participants in the project, Rev. Brenda Jones and Andrew Jackson, both of Oak Grove AME Church. Jackson will also speak about his experiences as a caregiver for both his mother and wife.

Henderson also talks with author Raymond Jetson whose book, “Aging While Black,” examines the unique experiences of aging while Black in America and focuses on creating a society where Black elders are celebrated, supported and empowered.

Additionally, the caregiving town hall will tackle topics such as access to much-needed respite services for caregivers, and obtaining financial and legal resources to assist with caregiving. Guests for this discussion include Hannan Center CEO Vincent Tilford, Watson Financial Group Financial Advisor André Watson, and Jason Lachowski, the associate state director of advocacy for AARP Michigan.

The Black Church in Detroit project began in 2021, and it brings together religious leaders in Detroit and the surrounding areas for monthly conversations about topics of interest in the faith community.

Support for caregiving is provided by:

Support for Caregiving is made possible by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.; Comfort Keepers; CareScout Holdings, Inc.; Care.com; Evelyn Y. Davis Foundation; Richard King Mellon Foundation; The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; Ford Foundation; Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation; NextFifty Initiative (Next50); National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI); PATH Foundation; Care for All with Respect and Equity (CARE) Fund; The John A. Hartford Foundation; and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.