**Forthcoming in Progress in Community Health Partnerships (PCHP). All rights reserved.**
ABSTRACT
Background: Developing a Dementia-Friendly city involves cultivating a dynamic, cooperative community where individuals with dementia and their caregivers are valued and fully supported. In Flagstaff, Arizona, a culturally diverse mountain college town, this initiative seeks to address inequities in dementia care for underserved populations.
Objectives: The primary goal was to establish the Northern Arizona Dementia Friendly Community Council as a community-driven response to the rising public health challenges posed by dementia.
Methods: Guided by Community-Based Participatory Research principles and the Dementia Friendly America (DFA) framework, we employed an iterative approach to assess community needs, engage diverse sectors, and drive the DFA application.
Lessons Learned: Key lessons include the importance of shared leadership, inclusive engagement, and distributed decision-making, along with navigating limited funding, careful resource allocation, and steady volunteer participation.
Conclusions: Flagstaff’s experience demonstrates that collaborative partnerships are essential for creating inclusive environments that support individuals with dementia and their caregivers.