Train the Brain: How One Community Connector Heals Bodies and Minds

October 19, 2026

Connected Along the Brain Coast

We’re all part of a local Brain Health Network – whether you’re a resident, researcher, clinician or community advocate.


During October's Train the Brain campaign, Palm Health Foundation highlights local innovators within the Brain Health Network demonstrating the power of cross-sector collaboration and contributing to the Brain Coast's growing national and global recognition for advancing brain health across the lifespan – from early childhood to healthy aging.

As one of BeWellPBC’s 20 Community Connectors, Ontario Johnson, “OJ,” finds ways to connect with compassion in all places and spaces throughout West Palm Beach—from a community meeting to a walk in the park. His grassroots work targets the non-medical factors that shape overall well-being while directly protecting brain health—both for his neighbors and himself.


As OJ says, “Sometimes, just showing up with patience and kindness can make all the difference.”


At a community event, he met a woman living in her truck with two of her grandchildren and two of her own kids and had nowhere to go. After listening to her story, OJ immediately connected her with the Lewis Center and Adopt-A-Family. Within days, she and her family were safely off the streets.

In Heart and Soul Park, OJ met another woman newly placed on dialysis. Knowing the challenges firsthand through his daughter’s experience, he offered understanding she hadn’t felt anywhere else. He connected her with a support group of individuals facing similar medical journeys and a mental health specialist who accepted her insurance.

And while distributing flyers one afternoon, OJ met a young man caring for his sick mother and struggling with overdue bills. OJ guided him through the county’s assistance portal, opening a path to stability he didn’t know existed.

Neuroscience confirms that compassionate outreach is a powerful two-way street. Brain imaging studies show that when we offer targeted support, it quiets the threat-and-stress centers in the recipient's brain while simultaneously lighting up reward pathways in the giver's brain.

For neighbors in crisis, this human connection restores peace of mind. For connectors like OJ, it lowers stress hormones, builds cognitive resilience, and protects long-term brain health.



“Community Connectors like OJ are the grassroots threads throughout Palm Beach County’s Brain Health Network,” said BeWellPBC Community Action and Communications Administrator Katrina Blackmon. “They are proving that taking time to simply connect affects both body and mind, and creates a more compassionate, caring community that benefits us all.”
About Train the Brain

Train the Brain: Filling the Prescription

October 19, 2026
Connected Along the Brain Coast We’re all part of a local Brain Health Network – whether you’re a resident, researcher, clinician or community advocate. During October's Train the Brain campaign , Palm Health Foundation highlights local innovators within the Brain Health Network demonstrating the power of cross-sector collaboration and contributing to the Brain Coast's growing national and global recognition for advancing brain health across the lifespan – from early childhood to healthy aging.

Train the Brain: On a High Note for Brain Health

October 19, 2026
Connected Along the Brain Coast We’re all part of a local Brain Health Network – whether you’re a resident, researcher, clinician or community advocate. During October's Train the Brain campaign , Palm Health Foundation highlights local innovators within the Brain Health Network demonstrating the power of cross-sector collaboration and contributing to the Brain Coast's growing national and global recognition for advancing brain health across the lifespan – from early childhood to healthy aging.

Palm Health Foundation Celebrates 56 Health Professions Scholars

October 13, 2026
Reception unites nursing, mental health, and behavioral health students with the donors and fundholders investing in their education 

Palm Health Foundation Welcomes New Leadership

September 26, 2026
Dr. Roger L. Duncan III and Elisa Cramer join board of trustees; Dr. Paul Rashid appointed to Community Investment Committee

How a Palm Health Foundation Scholar is Turning Experience into Advocacy

September 25, 2026
The Mike McNamara Scholarship Fund at Palm Health Foundation became her lifeline.

Palm Health Foundation Marks 10 Years of Train the Brain with Launch of Brain Health Network

September 24, 2026
"Connected Along the Brain Coast" campaign brings brain science out of the lab and into Palm Beach County communities this October

Palm Health Foundation Secures Grant to Bridge Gap Between Brain Science and Community Wellbeing

August 26, 2026
New initiative activates South Florida's Brain Coast to help close 17-year gap between scientific discovery and impact. 

Building Healthier Neighborhoods Through Connection and Trust

May 28, 2026
Aspen Institute spotlighted BeWellPBC , a Palm Beach County behavioral health movement supported by Palm Health Foundation, and their Community Connectors , a group of advocates that help improve the health and wellbeing of their neighborhoods by serving as a bridge between residents and private and public health services.  These Community Connectors are deeply trusted and have helped their communities navigate complex health challenges – like when one neighbor didn’t know what to do when her husband was admitted to a nursing home as his dementia worsened.

Brain Health Across the Lifespan for the PBC CHIP and Healthcare Council

May 28, 2026
Palm Health Foundation hosted an educational session for the Palm Beach County Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and Healthcare Council , themed, “Brain Health Across the Lifespan.” This council serves as a countywide collaborative focused on improving health outcomes through shared priorities, cross-sector partnership, and coordinated action. Our brain health-focused session spotlighted how the Brain Coast Vision is translating brain science into practice through workforce development , shared learning , and community partnerships . Session presenters included: Patrick McNamara, LCSW, President and CEO, Palm Health Foundation Bama Lutes Deal, PhD, Palm Beach County NeuroArts Collaborative Deborah Germain, MPH, Comprehensive Center for Brain Health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Culture of Health Network Spotlight: Partners Learning About Food as Medicine

May 28, 2026
Last year, Palm Health Foundation supported a cohort from our Culture of Health Network to attend the Help Conference , a regional event focused on health equity through plant-forward initiatives to improve the lives of those living with diet related diseases. Attendees included representatives from American Heart Association , Healthier Boynton Beach , and Healthier Glades .  This opportunity strengthened relationships between local organizations committed to health equity and provided invaluable learning.