On Saturday, October 25, MnDRIVE Brain Conditions proudly joined the West St. Paul community for a vibrant Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration at Garlough Environmental Magnet School. The event was hosted by the Community Education and Engagement Hub at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB), with MnDRIVE Brain Conditions and the Noninvasive Neuromodulation Lab Research Core represented by Alana Lieske, who staffed an educational and engaging booth for local families.
Día de Muertos is a cultural celebration rooted in remembrance, family, and connection—making it a meaningful space for community outreach. The event offered a welcoming environment for families, educators, and community partners to learn, explore, and connect.
Alana helped spread the word about MnDRIVE Brain Conditions and the Noninvasive Neuromodulation (NNL) Hub, while also offering fun, hands-on learning experiences for children ages 5–12. One highlight was an impromptu dice-based brain trivia game: kids chose to roll one or two colorful 6-sided dice, or a 12-sided die, which determined the true-or-false question they received. Whether they answered correctly or not, every participant won a prize—because everyone is a winner when they learn something new about the brain!
The celebration also included a Resource Hallway, where attendees could explore information about MIDB research, ongoing studies, and ways science and community can work together.
A big thank you to the Community Education and Engagement Hub for the invitation, and to all the families who stopped by to learn, play, and celebrate. We look forward to continuing to build meaningful partnerships with our local communities!
