Los Angeles, California

Our Partnership with Crenshaw Christian Center

Healthy Minds Initiative (HMI) has partnered with Crenshaw Christian Center (CCC) in Los Angeles on one of the most important and innovative brain health research programs in the United States.

We at HMI believe this project is going to change the landscape of brain health forever, especially in communities historically impacted by double the prevalence of dementia and stroke.

Healthy Minds Initiative community brain health program at Crenshaw Christian Center

Healthy Minds Initiative community presentation

What is Healthy Minds Initiative?

Healthy Minds Initiative is an evidence-based program that supports communities on their path to brain health. Starting with local faith-based groups and community centers, Dean and Ayesha began to investigate how communities could be empowered to make healthy lifestyle changes.

They looked at how technology could play a role in outreach, habit forming, and intervention, and found that involving the community through the entire process—from investigation, to research, to intervention—empowered people to make significant lifestyle changes. Ultimately, these changes can significantly reduce diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, and dementia.

Healthy Minds Initiative working with community members

How do we work with communities?

Healthy Minds Initiative partners with communities to implement culturally relevant and accessible healthy lifestyle choices in the areas of Eating, Movement, Sleep Optimization, Relaxation, and Learning.

We meet leaders to discuss the strengths, priorities, and resources of their communities, and reach out through virtual and in-person talks to guide people towards better brain health in a personally tailored way. We also train coaches and chefs to align their work with brain-healthy practices and sustainable, positive lifestyle habits, so they can pass this vital knowledge onto others in a practical way.

Made possible together

With gratitude to

Crenshaw Christian Center

CCC is a multi-generational, multi-cultural, yet predominantly African American church in Los Angeles with whom we’re working on innovative community-oriented brain health programs.

Visit their website

National Academy of Medicine

Our partnership with CCC was made possible with support from the National Academy of Medicine, who awarded us a 2021 Innovator Award.

About the HMI × CCC project

Innovative and revolutionary

This collaboration is a first-of-its-kind project in terms of community-based participatory research. It combines our medical backgrounds with CCC’s community structure to enable direct outreach and impact.

The future of brain health

Our research program will create permanent systems and sustainable infrastructure for long-term change. CCC’s coaches and chefs are making it possible, and our donors and volunteers are helping every step of the way.

International ambition

Partnering with CCC is just the start. This work can be expanded nationally and globally. Our vision is to drive research into brain health in under-represented communities the world over, decentralizing a historically limited and singularly focused area of study.

October 13, 2024

Celebration to INSPIRE

Our ‘Celebration to INSPIRE’ event took place on Sunday, October 13th 2024 in Crenshaw Christian Center’s Youth Activities Center.

The event introduced the CCC community to our ‘INSPIRE’ project, which focuses on Intervention Strategies for Preserving Intellectual Resilience and Engagement.

Watch the highlights on Instagram — @eifministries

September 16, 2023

Creating a Brain Health Legacy

We joined Crenshaw Christian Center for their ‘Creating a Brain Health Legacy’ event on Saturday September 16, 2023. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn about brain health in a fun and inclusive way!

The day included an on-site farmers’ market with cooking demos, gardening tips and samples, advice on optimizing brain health, insights on how community can positively impact brain health, and drawings and prizes.

Janice and Renee Hulett’s recipe

Spicy Coconut Black Beans

Ingredients

2 cups (360 grams) dried black beans
1 red and 1 orange bell pepper, diced
1 red and 1 brown onion, diced
1 carrot, thinly sliced
4 cloves minced garlic
1 can coconut milk
7 tablespoons cumin
7 cups (about 1,660 milliliters) water
Salt to taste
Fresh Habanero or Scotch Bonnet Pepper to taste, halved and deseeded

Instructions

In a pot over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil and sauté the onions, bell peppers and carrots until tender, about 5 minutes.
Add the minced garlic and cumin; cook for 2 more minutes.
Add black beans, habaneros and water. Bring to a boil, then simmer covered until the beans are tender and most water has cooked out, several hours.
Taste and add habaneros to your spice liking. Stir periodically and add water as needed so the beans do not burn.
Stir in the coconut milk and simmer for about 5 minutes.

April 29, 2023

2023 Brain Health Lecture

Doctor Ayesha Sherzai, Chief Executive Officer of Healthy Minds Initiative, and Doctor Dean Sherzai, President of the Board of Directors for HMI, led a talk at the Crenshaw Christian Center FaithDome in LA.

The Sherzais’ talk and subsequent questions and answers session formed CCC’s ‘2023 Brain Health Lecture’. Members of the FaithDome congregation considered how they might introduce our ‘PREVENT’ ideology into their own lives, particularly through the lens of their faith.

Planning · Renewal and rest · Exercise · Volunteering · Eating · Nourishment · Training

Event bookletPDF

January 29, 2023

Inaugural Community Healthy Brain Fair

On January 29th, 2023, Drs. Sherzai conducted a second talk with the Crenshaw Christian Center community.

Immediately after the talk, we held our Inaugural Community Healthy Brain Fair: an extension of all that had been discussed at both talks, including an introduction to community resources available to help people on their journey towards optimal brain health.

Resources shared at the event

‘Manage Diabetes’ handoutPDF ‘Manage Stress’ handoutPDF ‘Nutrition’ handoutPDF ‘Sleep’ handoutPDF 15 important brain health factsPDF Exercise questionsPDF Mechanisms in diabetes mellitus which lead to dementiaPDF Mental health questionsPDF Traffic light method for brain-healthy foodPDF ‘What is cholesterol?’ handoutPDF

Thank you to the CCC team for sharing the story of our mission — watch the Reel

“Ultimately, these changes can significantly reduce diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and dementia.”— Dr. Dean Sherzai, via the Los Angeles Sentinel

Read the article

January 8, 2023

HMI at Crenshaw Christian Center

Doctors Ayesha and Dean Sherzai from Healthy Minds Initiative were invited to speak at Crenshaw Christian Center on January 8th, 2023.

If you weren’t able to watch the talk live—or if you want to see it again—watch the video below. It features the part of the service during which Dr. Frederick K. Price introduces the Drs. Sherzai for their discussion on the importance of brain health at the community level.

Watch the full service PresentationPDF

Knowledge rooted in community

Chefs & Coaches

Chefs

Chefs from the CCC community who have trained in the Healthy Minds Initiative program understand that healthy food choices are a key component for improved brain health. CCC chefs share creative recipe ideas in fun and easily adapted ways, with consideration of individual cooking methods, favored ingredients, and traditional festivities. Food isn’t just a way for us to connect—it’s a core element of brain-healthy living!

Coaches

Coaches from the CCC community who have trained with Healthy Minds Initiative have the knowledge and tools to support those they work with in a loving and empathetic environment. They recognize that everyone is at a different stage and are accessible to anyone needing assistance—to stay on track, get inspired, celebrate successes, or receive support after a choice that was not so beneficial. It happens, and tomorrow is a new day. No one is alone on this journey.