JOIN US AT MEMORY CAFE
All Memory Cafe gatherings are FREE, no reservations and open to persons living with memory loss and their care partners. Call 701-404-6712 or email hello@memorycaferrv.org for more information.
For couples and singles 30-65 years of age who are living with Young-Onset dementia. Living with dementia at any age is challenging but it is especially difficult when it strikes a young person. These individuals may still have children living at home who need care and transportation to their various school-related activities and these families must often also deal with the loss of income that is needed to pay the family’s bills. The concerns and lifestyle changes of living with Young-Onset dementia are different than those diagnosed at a later stage of life. For this reason, Memory Café of the Red River Valley now offers a small group get-together where those living with Young-Onset dementia can speak freely about their struggles, grief, and confusion as well as share resources and ideas that they have found helpful.
This group meets on the 4th Monday of each month
Time: 6:00-7:30pm
Location: West Fargo Rustad Center (601 26th Ave E, West Fargo, ND)
Group Facilitators: Maggie Ness & Abby Husar
Monday morning programing is hosted at Bethel Church Fargo (2702 30th Ave. S., Fargo, ND). Programming is free and no reservations required.
Monday Mornings (Exercise and Support Groups)
We meet every Monday morning from 9:00-11:00am at Bethel Church (2702 30th Ave S., Fargo, ND). On a Monday mornings, at Memory Cafe, there is a group for everyone! Monday Morning Programs Include:
- 9:00-9:30 AM – Exercise with Coach Jake from CrossFit Fargo
- 9:30-11:00AM – Breakout Groups Include:
- Men Care Partner Support Group
- Women Care Partner Support Group
- The Gathering: A group for individuals living with early-stage dementia, M.C.I. or memory loss caused by any medical reason.
- Social Club: During care partner support groups, there are groups for individuals living with memory loss to be engaged in enriched socialization and activities led by trained Memory Cafe volunteers.
Monday Afternoons
Memory Café of the Red River Valley provides interactive social gatherings for people with memory concerns and their care partners as well as community friends. Programming includes education, music, arts & community partnerships.
TIME: All Wednesday programs 1:00PM-2:30PM
LOCATION SITES:
Hope Lutheran Church – 3636 25th St. S, Fargo
Hjemkomst Center – 202 1st Ave N, Moorhead
Linger Laugh & Learn Center – 1122 1st Ave N, Fargo
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- January 7th – Music with the Moorhead Jazz & Visions of 2026 Project (Hope Lutheran Church South Fargo)
- January 14th – Special Education Session: Flourishing Forward Conference (Dakota Medical Foundation)
- January 21st – Vinyl Listening Party and Bring & Brag (Hope Lutheran Church South Fargo)
- January 28th – Support Group Meetings:
- 9:30 am – Moving Ahead: Life After Loss (Linger, Laugh & Learn Center)
- 1:00 pm – Caregiver Cafe (Linger, Laugh & Learn Center)
- February 4th– Intergenerational Project with Capstone Academy & Local Artist Emily Brooks (Hope Lutheran Church South Fargo)
- February 11th – Valentine’s Party with music from Ransom Notes & Sweetheart Bingo (Hjemkomst Center, Moorhead)
- February 18th- Education: Sleep & Brain Health – Nicky Holzworth, OTR/L (Hope Lutheran Church, Fargo)
- February 25th – Support Group Meetings:
9:30 am – Moving Ahead: Life After Loss (Linger, Laugh & Learn Center)
1:00 pm – Caregiver Cafe (Linger, Laugh & Learn Center)
All Memory Cafe support groups are free, no reservations required.
Monday Mornings (Exercise and Support Groups)
We meet every Monday morning from 9:00-11:00am at Bethel Church (2702 30th Ave S., Fargo, ND)
Programs included on Monday Mornings:
- 9:00-9:30 AM – Exercise with Coach Jake from CrossFit Fargo
- 9:30-11:00AM – Breakout Groups Include:
- Men Care Partner Support Group
- Women Care Partner Support Group
- The Gathering: A group for individuals living with early-stage dementia, M.C.I. or memory loss caused by any medical reason.
- Social Club: During care partner support groups, there are groups for individuals living with memory loss to be engaged in enriched socialization and activities led by trained Memory Cafe volunteers.
Caregiver Cafe Support Group:
This is a monthly support group for anyone caring for someone living with dementia or other related memory related health issues. During this group, attendees will have the opportunity to meet to share their concerns and ideas, talk about their fears and frustrations, and develop deeply supportive friendships.
Memory Cafe is committed to the health and well-being of our community members who care for individuals living with dementia or other memory-related health issues.
Meeting Time: 4th Wednesday of every month
1:00-2:30pm
Location: Linger Laugh and Learn Center (1122 1st Ave N, Fargo. Use the west entrance on 12th St N)
Group Facilitator: Kriston Wenzel, LBSW (Volunteer)
Moving Ahead: Life After Losing a Partner to Dementia
This group is specifically for partners who have lost a partner to a diagnosis of dementia or another type of memory loss.
Meeting Time: 4th Wednesday of every month from 9:30-11:00am
Location: Linger Laugh and Learn Center (1122 1st Ave N, Fargo. Use the west entrance on 12th St N)
Group Facilitator: Kriston Wenzel, LBSW (Volunteer)
Lifting the Soul with Music
Singing brings joy and lifts the soul. With all the benefits of singing for those with dementia, rehearsals are an excellent way to enjoy those benefits and socialize with others. It is even better when family, friends, and others get to enjoy the musical release at concerts. It brings all of us together to share that joy.
SPRING CONCERT: Saturday, MAY 2, 2026 at 1:00pm
The Sing From Your Heart Chorus is proud to present its Spring Concert on Saturday, May 2 at 1:00pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church (613 16th Street South, Fargo). The Chorus urges you to join us and to invite your friends and family for this FREE public concert to celebrate the power of music and singing together in our lives and our communities.
Rehearsal Schedule
Sing From Your Heart Chorus rehearsals are on Thursdays from 1:00-3:00pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church (613 16th Street, Fargo). We meet weekly; we rehearse from 1:00-2:30pm and then enjoy “Cookies and Conversation”, a social time from 2:30-3:00pm. Binders with sheet music and/or lyrics will be provided. Spring rehearsals begin February 5, 2026.
There are no fees, no auditions and no choir experience necessary–we believe everyone can Sing From Your Heart!
If you are interested in joining the Sing From Your Heart Chorus, please Contact Us.
Meet Deb McTaggart
Deb McTaggart is a Board-Certified Music Therapist with a Master’s degree in Gerontology, now living and practicing in Fargo, ND. She has focused her career on creating and presenting innovative and engaging music programming for persons with dementia. From 2014 to 2021, she was a Teaching Artist at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis.
Deb began her work at MacPhail with Giving Voice Chorus (GVC), a ground-breaking and award-winning vocal ensemble comprised of persons with dementia, their care partners and volunteers. She was a member of the core team that founded GVC, and served as the accompanist for three Giving Voice Choruses in the Twin Cities. In addition to her involvement with GVC, she provided MacPhail Music For Life™ programming for numerous elder care partnership communities, and conducted several MacPhail Sing For Life Choruses.
She also served as the Music Therapist at Johanna Shores (Presbyterian Homes of Arden Hills) for nine years. Prior to pursuing a career in Music Therapy, Deb was a private piano instructor.
In 2021, Deb moved to Fargo and founded Sage Music Services (SMS). SMS produces and presents music and music-related educational and life-enriching programs and services. SMS primarily serves adults with cognitive impairments (dementia), elderly adults and adults with developmental disabilities.
Deb graduated from Bemidji State University with a Bachelor’s degree in music and completed her Music Therapy Program at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. She earned her Master’s degree in Gerontology from Bethel University in St. Paul.
Deb sings with the Master Chorale of Fargo-Moorhead and the Bemidji State University Alumni Choir. She also sings and plays keyboard for the worship team at Living Waters Lutheran Church.
People who are forgetting should not be forgotten.