'Music Mends Minds' Founder Honored As Local LA Community Leader

LOS ANGELES, CA — Without community leaders, Los Angeles wouldn’t hum along nearly as smoothly as it does. We’d miss their contributions in big and small ways.

Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to recognize these often unsung community leaders and celebrate their contributions.

This submission comes from Katherine, a Los Angeles reader who nominated an LA nonprofit founder, Carol Rosenstein.

How do you know the community leader?

Carol founded the nonprofit organization Music Mends Minds.

Why do you believe the community leader should be recognized or honored?

Carol founded Music Mends Minds in 2014 as a way to help her husband Irwin, who was struggling with Parkinson’s and dementia. After years of watching him gradually slip away, Carol enrolled Irwin in the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Patient Care Program. While he was playing piano for parents and students in the program it became clear that the music empowered him. Irwin became more aware, responsive, confident, energetic, talkative and hopeful. After witnessing this dramatic transformation in Irwin’s condition Carol was inspired to start a band to help others with neurodegenerative diseases and The 5th Dementia band was born.

MMM now has bands throughout Southern California and nationally. We’ve hosted 25 concerts and partnered with Rotary International. During Covid, we expanded globally by creating a Zoom platform that meets triweekly led by a board-certified music therapist and features a mix of sing-alongs, solos and guest performers. MMM’s groups foster a community between the musicians and singers, as well as their families, friends, and caregivers, all of whom thrive on socialization and music making.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the community hero?

Her leadership and passion and her ability to make connections and advocate for seniors who feel forgotten and her tenaciousness in keeping the cause out front.

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Know a community leader who deserves a shout-out?

Nominate them here.