Saturday, May 16, 2026 · 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Brain Nutrition for All
A community event at The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential

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About the Event
What Is Brain Nutrition for All?
Brain Nutrition for All is a community event bringing together parents, educators, health advocates, retired professional athletes, and community leaders to explore one of the most pressing and underserved topics in human health: the profound impact of nutrition on brain function, cognitive performance, and neurological development at every stage of life.
The event is co-presented by two organizations that together represent the full arc of the conversation: the science of the brain and the community infrastructure required to nourish it.
Co-Presented By
The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential (IAHP) — a world-renowned organization with over 70 years of pioneering brain development research.
It Takes a Village to Feed One Child (ITAVTFOC) — a regional nonprofit delivering over 250,000 nutritious meals monthly to children and families across the PA-NJ-DE region.
Why This Event
The Gap This Event Is Closing
The connection between what we eat and how our brains develop, perform, and age is well-researched and widely ignored. Brain Nutrition for All puts that connection at the center of a public conversation that reaches across athletes, scientists, families, and community leaders.
1 in 6
Food-Insecure Children
U.S. children live in food-insecure households directly linked to lower cognitive indicators, behavioral dysregulation, and developmental delay.
1,000
Critical Days of Life
From conception through a child's second birthday: the most critical window for brain growth. Absent nutrients cannot be fully reversed.
50%
Higher Food Insecurity
Families of children with Autism are 50% more likely to experience food insecurity than neurotypical families.
89%
Feeding Difficulties
Up to 89% of autistic children have feeding difficulties; the single strongest predictor of caregiver stress.

The Science
Why Nutrition Shapes the Brain
Essential nutrients like iron, DHA, folate, and zinc are not optional supplements, they are the biological building blocks of a functioning brain. When these are absent during critical developmental windows, the effects on cognition, behavior, and neurological capacity cannot be fully reversed.
Program Schedule
The Afternoon, May 16
Featured Speakers
Meet Our Speakers
We've gathered an inspiring lineup of experts and advocates who will share their unique perspectives on brain nutrition, from groundbreaking research to real-world impact in the community and professional sports.
Janet Doman
Director of The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential, leading decades of pioneering research in brain development.
Mark Wainwright
Executive Director of It Takes a Village to Feed One Child, a visionary in community nutrition access and child well-being.
Rodney McLeod
Super Bowl champion and community advocate, discussing the connection between diet, sports, and holistic well-being.
Theo Ratliff
Retired NBA All-Star, offering his experience on how strategic nutrition fuels an elite athlete's career and recovery.
Program Highlights
What to Expect
Panel 1: Champions at Every Age
Retired athletes and executives share firsthand accounts of how nutrition shaped their performance, recovery, and cognitive longevity; bridging elite sport and everyday brain health.
The Brain Boosting Experience
A curated lunch by Nexus Collective Kitchens where every dish is intentionally selected for its proven role in nourishing the human brain and every plate comes with the science behind it.
Fireside Chat: Seven Decades of Believing in the Brain
An intimate conversation with Janet Doman & Mark Wainwright reflecting on 70 years of brain development research and what it means for families today.
Partner Spotlight
The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential
Founded 1955
70+ years of pioneering brain development research
Philadelphia, PA — 11-acre historic campus
International reach — 30,000 families from 100+ countries
Founded in 1955, The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential is an internationally recognized nonprofit headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For over 70 years, IAHP has been guided by one foundational conviction: the brain grows by use.
Under the leadership of Glenn Doman and continued today by his daughter, Director Janet Doman, The Institutes have worked with brain-injured children, well children, and families from around the world developing programs and courses that have transformed how parents, educators, and medical professionals understand the human brain's capacity for growth and recovery.
IAHP's work spans children with cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, and developmental delay, as well as programs supporting well children in achieving their full intellectual, physical, and social potential.
"The brain grows by use." — Glenn Doman, Founder, IAHP
Partner Spotlight
It Takes a Village to Feed One Child
It Takes a Village to Feed One Child (ITAVTFOC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing food insecurity across the PA-NJ-DE region. Each month, ITAVTFOC provides over 250,000 nutritious meals and snacks to more than 100 child, adult, and at-risk centers throughout the tri-state area.
ITAVTFOC operates the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and a Mobile Homeless Food Program delivering hot, high-quality meals daily to childcare centers, Head Start programs, senior centers, and at-risk communities.
In 2025, ITAVTFOC launched the Weekend Meals for Children initiative, working toward providing 5,000 children and seniors with nutritious meals every Saturday and Sunday, addressing the gap that exists when school meal programs are not in session.
Led by Founder and Executive Director Mark Wainwright, whose career has been built around a single conviction: that access to nutritious food is not a privilege. It is a right.
Impact by the Numbers
250,000+
Nutritious meals monthly
100+
Child, adult & at-risk centers served
5,000
Children & seniors targeted for weekend meals
3 States
PA · NJ · DE tri-state region
Culinary Partner
NEXUS Collective Kitchens & IAHP
About NEXUS Collective Kitchens
Founded in 2025, NEXUS Collective Kitchens operates at the intersection of community nutrition and culinary craft. Their mission: to provide children, adults, and corporations with nutrient-dense foods that impact brain function and overall health.
NEXUS holds strategic partnerships with IAHP and Impact Ark Advisors (IAA), positioning them at the forefront of the brain nutrition movement.
The Brain Boosting Experience
Under the creative direction of IAA, NEXUS will bring IAHP's Brain Boosting Recipes to life for the May 16 dining experience. Every dish is intentionally selected for its proven role in nourishing the human brain and every dish is accompanied by the science behind it.

IAHP's Promise
IAHP and the NEXUS team are committed to demonstrating that brain-healthy food can be vibrant, accessible, and deeply satisfying, proving that nourishing the brain doesn't mean sacrificing flavor or joy at the table.
Nutrient-Dense Dishes
Every plate curated for maximum brain impact
Science on the Side
Each dish paired with the research behind its ingredients
Community Rooted
Culinary craft in service of public health
Join Us on May 16
Be part of a conversation that connects science, community, and the table. Brain Nutrition for All is where the research meets real life — and where every seat at the table matters.
📅 Date & Time
Saturday, May 16, 2026
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Location
The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential
1 Birch Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038
🌐 Online
Support the Mission — Donate Today
Your generosity directly fuels the work of two organizations committed to brain development and community nutrition. Every contribution makes a difference, whether you're supporting pioneering brain research or ensuring children have access to nutritious meals.
Get in Touch
For inquiries regarding the event or our partners, please contact:
Christina DePaul