I read extensively about the Latin American Innovation Clusters. In 2016 they started two groups for innovation in Mexico and Brazil. They develop strategies to help children and families facing diversity. Their main core element is their belief in local partnering. Their first year was spent learning the science of early childhood development, identifying unmet challenges and initial science-based program ideas, and conducting research in their communities to verify their ideas. Now they're in their 2nd year and they're beginning implementation. I am so curious to see how it goes!
Next, I read about the program called "Saving Brains". This is led by Grand Challenges Canada. Their mission is to improve outcomes for poverty-stricken children through interventions that nurture and protect early brain development in the first 1000 days of life. These innovators spread their work worldwide. I found this is truly a community working together to build and create together, through research, how to protect brains. There are projects happening in low and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America.
I was particularly interested to find an "Innovation Cluster" happening in the state directly above me- Washington. This is a huge collaboration of 5 program sites working with 6 university-based researchers, complete with program directors and managers in multiple states. They are co-designing and testing innovative methods for caregivers and children to build self-regulation skills. They pride themselves in their commitment to disadvantaged children.
** I love that I now have the Harvard Center for The Developing Child website in my toolbox of resources. I really love the idea of connecting internationally in my future work.
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