Discover refreshing, nonpartisan<\/strong> reporting on stories happening in your backyard.<\/p>\n With her grant, she initially brought flowers and cookies and visited with many of the residents of the James L. West Center for Dementia Care in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n \u201cJust having someone sit and converse with them helped them realize they were valued,\u201d she said. \u201cMaking them feel special gave me more fulfillment than I could ever have imagined.\u201d<\/p>\n Her relentless dedication to those facing dementia has earned her the recognition of 52 Faces of Community, Fort Worth Report\u2019s weekly series on unsung heroes making a difference in Tarrant County.<\/p>\n When her initial grant money ran out, Sukesh continued to volunteer with the James L. West Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n And she expanded what she was doing there.\u00a0<\/p>\n Welcome to 52 Faces<\/strong><\/p>\n 52 Faces of Community<\/a> is a Fort Worth Report weekly series spotlighting local unsung heroes. It is sponsored by Central Market<\/a>, H-E-B<\/a> and JPS Health Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the end of the year, these rarely recognized heroes will gather for a luncheon where the Report will announce one honoree to represent Tarrant County at the Jefferson Awards in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n She met with Tia Viera, the James L. West bilingual educator, about interacting with Spanish-speaking residents, which has further elevated her impact. Her near-fluency and Viera\u2019s insights helped her interact more effectively with those for whom English was not a first language.<\/p>\n In her sophomore year, Sukesh started a dementia awareness club at Trinity Valley, recruiting more than 50 members. Now, in her junior year, she expects to have over 100 recruits.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hearing the music\u00a0<\/p>\n Initially, her school club made Halloween bracelets and Thanksgiving centerpieces for the residents. The students handmade and wrote greeting cards, delivered flowers and visited with the residents.<\/p>\n Sukesh and her club also used their musical skills to interact with the West center community. She recalled playing a piece for several residents, one of Erik Satie\u2019s Gymnop\u00e9dies, and noticed one woman working her fingers as if she was playing the piano.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we got up, she came and sat down and played a bunch of pieces for us, no music, just pure memory,\u201d Sukesh said. \u201cShe knew her way around the keys very well. That was just another bonding moment where I could see that she saw other kids are interested in her passion, made her want to share her passion as well. That was another really important experience for me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Valynda King, director of life enrichment at the West center, said Sukesh\u2019s work has uplifted the experience of their residents and of the center\u2019s employees as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone was surprised to see this smiling face and bundle of energy walk through the doors and spread such joy. It was amazing,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cheryl Harding, James L. West president and CEO, hopes to use what Sukesh is doing in other centers.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully, what we experienced with Thrisha can be replicated by high school students across the United States,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sukesh\u2019s work has captured the attention of others. The National Charity League\u2019s Fort Worth Trailblazers Chapter, during its recent Centennial Banquet, honored her with the 18 Under 18 Award.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sukesh has spread her work for those with a dementia diagnosis beyond the West center. She has also started working with Dementia Friendly Fort Worth, an organization that helps businesses and organizations become more welcoming for people with the diagnosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n Know an unsung hero in Tarrant County?<\/p>\n Tell us about them by filling out the form below. <\/p>\n She and the leadership of the organization schedule meetings with businesses to help them become more dementia friendly.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt can be as simple as setting aside a certain time during the week when there will be less activity and maybe a quieter time for people with dementia,\u201d Sukesh said.\u00a0<\/p>\n That work with Dementia Friendly Fort Worth also caught the attention of Fort Worth City Council member Michael Crain, who represents District 3 in southwest Fort Worth.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThrisha Sukesh\u2019s leadership and passion for making Fort Worth a more dementia-friendly community are truly inspiring; her advocacy and ability to mobilize fellow students show what happens when compassion and action come together,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Crain presented Sukesh with a city proclamation recognizing her work with Dementia-Friendly Fort Worth at the Sept. 16 council meeting in recognition of National Alzheimer\u2019s Day.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe owe it to our seniors to make Fort Worth a city that understands their needs,\u201d she told the council. \u201cAging is inevitable and one day we will be the seniors that are walking into those businesses. The kind of community we build today will be the future we inherit tomorrow.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Sukesh is not sure what her next steps will be after she graduates from high school.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of this work with people who have dementia and just seniors in general has made me interested in neuroscience,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got one more year left, so I\u2019m hoping I\u2019ll be able to figure it out by then,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Crain said Sukesh will make a difference no matter what she does in the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThrisha is exemplary for the young people our society needs: engaged, empathetic and devoted to making a lasting difference to those around them,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc4b What is local news worth to you?<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Important decisions are made in our community every day. Your support ensures the Fort Worth Report can cover and share those stories \u2014 freely and independently.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"52](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/52-faces-transparent-2.png\"){kind=spacer}
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Thrisha-Sukesh-Speaks-at-Fort-Worth-City-Council-GROUP-PHOTO-9-16-25.jpg\")
Thrisha Sukesh being honored at the Fort Worth City Council meeting on Sept. 16. (Courtesy photos | James L. West Center) <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Thrisha-Sukesh-Speaks-at-Fort-Worth-City-Council-PROCLAMATION-9-16-25.jpg\")
Thrisha Sukesh\u2019s recognition at Fort Worth City Council on Sept. 16. (Courtesy photo | James L. West Center) <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Thrisha-Sukesh-Speaks-at-Fort-Worth-City-Council-with-GAIL-SNIDER-9-16-25.jpg\")
Thrisha Sukesh, right, with Gail Snider of Dementia Friendly Fort Worth at city hall. (Courtesy photo | James L. West Center) <\/p>\n
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