Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana
S-HC Google Drive • 10 minute video

In a culture focused on productivity, how can we all (re)discover the essential nature of play for developing and grown brains?

Created in partnership with Women, Infants and Children (WIC) - Beacon Community Impact and students of the University of Notre Dame Neuroscience and Behavior program.

Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana
S-HC Google Drive • 6 minute video

This brief video offers an explanation of how caregiver stress, as well as examples for stress management and connection, can have an impact on children and dependents. It also offers a quick introduction into one of the mind-bending ways our experiences can actually change how the cells of our bodies work! And reminds us that when it comes to our bodies, we have so many choices to build our skills and strengths. This video was created in partnership with the Family Justice Center, so while the language at the end of the video suggests talking with an Advocate for ideas of enrichment or stress management, our local library systems are also open to every community member and are full of incredible opportunities!

Created in partnership with the Family Justice Center and students of the University of Notre Dame Neuroscience and Behavior program.

Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana
S-HC Google Drive • 6 minute video

Discover the power of talking with your baby! That’s right - it turns out babies aren’t just lumps of life waiting for something to happen, but brilliant, growing humans just waiting for you to engage with them! The more we talk with our babies, the more we can take an active part in helping their brain grow. Created in partnership with the Talk With Your Baby program at the Robinson Community Learning Center, this video offers some really easy strategies for supporting your baby’s brain development. Something as simple as narrating what you’re making for dinner, over time can have a big impact on how baby learns words and even reads later in life.

Created in partnership with Talk With Your Baby - Robinson Community Learning Center and students of the University of Notre Dame Neuroscience and Behavior program.

Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana
PDF • 40 pages (10 min. skim; 30 min. read)

It has become very popular in mainstream culture to talk about 'self care.' There are so many different messages that tell us to take certain steps to change our lives just by purchasing x, y, or z products to 'self care' correctly. It can be exhausting and often inaccurate, not to mention expensive! Take a chance on discovering the brain basis for so many “self-care” tips and trademarks - by understanding the brain functions that underlie the memes, we can take control and work within our life-style to build on what we’re already doing and finding easy ways to grow our capacity.

Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana
Paperback book & Coloring book • No Snow Day for the Brain: 15 min; Inside the Brain: 30-45 min

Two books in one! No Snow Day for the Brain is a short children’s story for kids and reading partners to enjoy together. A second book, Inside the Brain, is also included and offers the opportunity for reading partners and children alike to take a look inside the brain of the characters of the story. This book was created with the hope of sharing an unusual language of empowerment: the language of neuroscience. By understanding what the brain expects, we all have the opportunity to work within our culture, background, personal history, etc., to protect and build the health of our brains.

Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana
Paper booklet • 20 minute read

Caregivers have the most important job on the planet - they are literally sculpting the brains of our youngest generations. But most of us don’t realize how much is happening in that young brain and the remarkable impact we can have in supporting healthy brain development. The hope of this booklet is to introduce basic elements of healthy child brain development and offer caregivers a space to reflect on opportunities to incorporate additional skills in the caregiving toolbox.

Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana
Paper booklet • _ pages

Our brains are made to work with one another, not alone. This is a concept as old as human beings themselves, and many different cultures articulate it. Across the African continent, different forms of the Nguni word ubuntu describe the idea that we are all connected. Ubuntu is often translated as “I am because you are”, a sentiment completely supported by what we understand about healthy brain function. Created in partnership with Imani Unidad, this bedside booklet offers an opportunity to learn about some of the effects of trauma on the brain, and more importantly, the steps we can all take to begin to heal.

Created in partnership with Imani Unidad and students of the University of Notre Dame Neuroscience and Behavior program.

Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana
Paper booklet • 20 minute read

This booklet holds quotes, "Wisdom from the Room", from the peer to peer group at Imani Unidad. Each page is full of insights from community members pertaining to their healing journeys. The wisdom speaks for Itself. This booklet simply provides neuroscientific evidence to elevate individual voice and experience - the wisdom within ourselves.

Created in partnership with Imani Unidad and students of the University of Notre Dame Neuroscience and Behavior program.

Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana
PDF • 10 minute skim; Deeper-dive read can take as long as it’s given

Communication can often be really hard, and when it comes to biology, there are some crazy words that can get thrown into the mix too! To aid in communication, with the hope of establishing a common understanding of terms used in the neuroscience field, Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana created this introductory booklet. This booklet will not only introduce frequently used terminology and working definitions of common phrases, it will also offer a framework of the community journey we are all in together.

BrainU
Website • Multiple resources

If you are interested in learning how to lead interactive neuroscience lessons, this site is for you! For any community leader or educator that wants to engage their audience to support their learning, all of the activities on the BrainU website were developed with learning in mind.

Created and maintained by The University of Minnesota.