Twin Cities Mental Health Action Festival Kicks Off Innovative New Brain Health Initiative for Youth and Families
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A groundbreaking community celebration focused on mental health, brain science, and youth empowerment is coming to Minneapolis. The Twin Cities Mental Health Action Festival will take place on Thursday, May 15, 2025, from 6–9 p.m. CT at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, located at 2025 East River Parkway in Minneapolis.
Hosted by the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation and the Youth Community Journalism Institute, in collaboration with the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, Carmen Robles and Associates LLC, and Conversaciones de Salud, this dynamic festival will feature food, music, educational video games, community journalism, brain research, mental health resources, and expert resources. The event is designed to promote mental wellness and community resilience.
For those unable to attend in person, the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation will provide a Facebook Live stream to offer a virtual front-row seat to conversations with leading brain experts from the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain.
“This is more than a festival. It’s a movement,” said Eric Ortiz, the founder and director of the Youth Community Journalism Institute at the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation, a Minneapolis-based youth and community development organization where he is executive director. “We want to create opportunities for young people and their families to learn about brain health, connect with resources, and be inspired to take action. Everyone should have access to tools that support their well-being. We want to help people of any age strengthen themselves and their communities through brain power.”
The festival marks the official launch of Brain Health Solutions for All, a year-long, intergenerational, multilingual community engagement project. The project will produce a youth-led video series, a podcast series, and community solutions events on brain health. The goal of the initiative is to bridge the gap between cutting-edge brain research and everyday mental health practices in underserved communities across the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
“Mental health is a cultural, emotional, and human right,” said Carmen Robles, founder of Carmen Robles and Associates LLC and the founder and publisher of Conversaciones de Salud, a bilingual youth-led monthly digital and print magazine that serves Latino communities with trusted health information. “We are working to ensure that mental health education is accessible, relevant, and grounded in the lived experiences of our communities.”
The Brain Health Solutions for All project will convene brain researchers, medical professionals, educators, and community members to explore how neuroscience can strengthen youth, families, and entire communities. With a focus on practical, community-based solutions, the project will include workshops, events, and multilingual media produced by youth journalists.
“At the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, we are committed to bringing brain science into the community,” said Dr. Dziwe Ntaba, an emergency room physician in Minneapolis and an interim co-director of the Community Engagement and Education (CEEd) Hub at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain. “Our partnerships are vital to addressing disparities in mental health care. By collaborating with local organizations, we’re ensuring brain health solutions are equitable and inclusive for all.”
Join us on May 15 to celebrate mental wellness and take the first step toward building a healthier future for all.
📍 Event Details
🗓 Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025
🕕 Time: 6–9 p.m. CT
📌 Location: Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain
2025 East River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414
📺 Livestream: Facebook @StrongMindStrongBody
For more information, contact Eric Ortiz, executive director of the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation, at eric@strongmindstrongbody.org.
