Strengthening youth and families through brain power

Dr. Meghan Swanson is a neuroscientist at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

She conducts research at the University of Minnesota's Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB), a research institution in Minneapolis that brings together educators, scientists, and M Health Fairview clinicians to advance brain health from early childhood through adulthood.

In her work, Swanson studies brain development in the first three years of life and investigates the neurobiology of early communication for children. She is also interested in learning how infants and their parents communicate and how this early communication impacts brain development and later language and cognitive skills.

Some of her work is groundbreaking, such as a brain scan that allows researchers to detect autism in children as young as 6 months old. This kind of early detection helps families access critical treatment and support at the earliest possible stage.

Despite this pioneering work, Swanson still wants to do more.

"I think that there are a lot of opportunities to reach our local community," Swanson said during a meeting in April at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain with Latino youth community journalists, ages 14 and 16, from the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation's Youth Community Journalism Institute. "I think historically, if you look at the groups of people that participate in studies, they do not reflect America as a whole. They don't reflect our local communities. And so you then have to ask yourself, why is that the case?  Why is my sample, like the moms in my sample, why are 80 percent of them White moms with PhDs? Right? Why am I getting one cross-section of our local population and not a truly representative population? And I think that's because we don't do enough of this, what we're doing here. Reaching into our community, describing what research is, talking about the benefits."

Swanson's research has the potential to benefit any child and any family in any community. But to help more people, she and the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain need to connect with more communities.

To address this gap, the Youth Community Journalism Institute is working with the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain to create "Brain Health Solutions for All," a youth-driven, intergenerational, multilingual community engagement project to make brain science accessible and actionable for everyone.

This year-long pilot program starts in July 2025 and will bring together brain researchers, medical practitioners, health professionals, and community leaders to discuss current topics in neuroscience, psychology, pediatrics, public health, and education, with a focus on how research impacts real-world issues and community well-being. The goal is to help people of all ages understand the power of the brain to strengthen themselves and their communities.

Aimed at underserved communities (Latino, Black, Indigenous, Asian, immigrant, rural, young, and old) in Minnesota, the project will produce a youth-led video series, a podcast series, community solutions events on brain health, and information for Conversaciones de Salud, a bilingual (English/Spanish) monthly youth-led digital and print magazine. The mission is to connect cutting-edge brain research with everyday mental health practices in underserved communities across the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.

"I've had a lot of self-reflection over the last couple months," said Swanson. "And it's really clear to me that one of the reasons why we are in this position right now as scientists and in academia is because we have spent too much time in our ivory tower. And we weren't talking to our community."

Youth ages 9-16 from the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation's Youth Community Journalism Institute, in collaboration with primary media partner Conversaciones de Salud and Jóvenes de Salud, led by community engagement specialist Carmen Robles and Associates LLC, will produce all aspects of the project with the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain at the University of Minnesota. 

Colectiva Bilingue, a nonprofit supporting families and staff of Spanish dual language programs in Minneapolis Public Schools, will provide interpreter services for the project.

The Twin Cities Mental Health Action Festival on May 15 at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain kicks off the “Brain Health Solutions for All” program.

Brain health is a universal human issue. By focusing on it at the local level with youth in an intergenerational way, we can empower young people to lead.

"There's not one answer," added Swanson. "This is why there isn't more of that kind of two-way communication. And that's what's needed. It's not just that scientists need to share the findings of their research. It's that there needs to be more of that two-way communication every step along the way."

By centering youth voices and fostering two-way communication, this work lays the foundation for long-term community healing and more equitable mental health systems. It's an important step toward building a healthier future for all. 

Eric Ortiz lives in the Wedge with his family. He is executive director of the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation, a national youth and community development nonprofit based in Minneapolis, and associate director of research for The Pivot Fund, a venture philanthropy organization that invests in community newsrooms serving underserved communities.