How do we make health, culture, and science engaging, practical, and community-centered? Youth journalists are showing us how.
In the latest podcast episode of Brain Health Solutions for All, 12-year-olds Elvin Rodriguez Perez and Kamille Wilson interviewed brain health expert Dr. Michael Georgieff and Indigenous food leader Vern DeFoe to explore how nutrition and cultural food traditions shape the brain and strengthen communities across generations.
Dr. Georgieff is an internationally recognized expert in pediatric nutrition and brain development at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, and DeFoe is the executive chef of Gatherings Cafe at the Minneapolis American Indian Center.
This episode, produced at the community media center SPEAK MPLS and recorded in English and Spanish, shows how youth community journalism makes complex topics easy to understand.
“Some of the foods you eat can help you focus better in school, feel less stressed, and build a stronger brain for life,” Elvin told listeners at the start of the podcast.
Dr. Georgieff emphasized that understanding nutrition isn’t just about science. It’s about action.
“It’s knowing which nutrients are in healthy foods and putting that into practice,” he said. “Kids can be part of the process from cooking to understanding how food impacts their bodies and brains.”
DeFoe highlighted how cultural food practices connect generations.
“Harvesting wild rice or tapping maple trees isn’t just about the food,” he explained. “It brings the whole family and community together, teaching responsibility, history, and connection.”
Through this episode, youth journalists did more than facilitate dialogue. They shared key insights and asked questions that made expert knowledge clear for their peers and families.
“It’s the ecology of the food that’s really important,” Dr. Georgieff said. “Encourage everybody to ask questions. There are no dumb questions. In any culture, in any community, experts can explain why we do things the way we do. Young people are the ones who can really ask the questions and expect good answers.”
“These tips are practical, easy to try, and really show how food connects brain health and culture,” Kamille concluded.
The Youth Community Journalism Institute, a partner in Brain Health Solutions for All, trains youth ages 8–17 to produce multimedia content, including podcasts, videos, print magazines, newspapers, and live events, that inform and empower communities.
The Brain Health Solutions for All project, led by the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation in partnership with the Youth Community Journalism Institute, Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, Carmen Robles, and Conversaciones de Salud, is a multilingual, intergenerational initiative that empowers youth to make brain research accessible, engaging, fun, and actionable to strengthen individuals and their communities.
By combining youth leadership with expert insights, Brain Health Solutions for All helps young journalists tackle real-world issues, foster media literacy, and reach communities that have traditionally lacked access to health resources.
Why This Matters
When young people lead conversations about health, culture, and science, knowledge becomes shared power. Communities are better equipped to make informed, healthy choices for the future.
Read the article in Spanish.
