GET CONNECTED... CELEBRATE BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK! Visit www.dana.org/baw to get started.
WHAT IS BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK? Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. Founded in 1996 by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, BAW unites the efforts of partner organizations from around the world in a week-long celebration of the brain every March. Partners include universities, hospitals, K-12 schools, advocacy groups, government agencies, service organizations, professional groups, and affiliates. During BAW, partners organize creative and innovative activities in their communities to educate and excite people of all ages about the brain and the promise of brain research. Activities are limited only by the organizers imaginations.
BECOME A PARTNER! The Dana Alliance invites your organization to join the growing ranks of partners worldwide. By being a part of this global effort, you can add your voice to the message of hope that brain research brings a message that will have even greater impact when delivered in concert with thousands of other voices from around the world. Visit www.dana.org/baw to register. Partnership in the campaign is free; programming by individual partners is undertaken at their own expense. What does it mean to be a BAW Partner? By registering, your organization joins a global partnership committed to educating the public about the many wonders of the brain and nervous system. As a BAW partner you agree to: Actively participate: Organize an event, promote the campaign on your website, present a BAW information table. These are just a few of the many ways to celebrate BAW. Share your plans: Post your activities on the BAW Calendar of Events. Distribute the FREE BAW campaign materials: Order print publications and promotional items (USA partners only), or download and print resources from the BAW website including fact sheets, puzzles, coloring sheets, and more. Provide feedback by submitting a Partner Report.
WHY JOIN? BAW provides a wonderful opportunity to place your organization s work in the public spotlight. By celebrating BAW, you can: Increase your visibility by advancing your mission within the broader context of a global education initiative. Spread the word about the importance of brain research and its critical role in helping people lead healthier, more productive lives. Arm the public with the knowledge and information they need to make informed decisions about their health. Ensure a future for neuroscientific discovery by inspiring the next generation of scientists. Partners have access to: FREE resources, including event ideas and planning tips, outreach tools, education and science links, and downloadable graphics, puzzles, and coloring sheets. The BAW Calendar of Events to publicize your activities. FREE materials to distribute. Official BAW logos to use on materials you develop. Networking opportunities with other partner organizations. QUESTIONS? Visit www.dana.org/baw or contact the Dana Alliance s BAW Campaign Headquarters for more information, including upcoming campaign dates.
CELEBRATE BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK! BAW partners are active participants in the campaign. Are you interested in getting involved but unsure what you can do? Even the simplest of activities can have a tremendous impact on public understanding about the brain. Here are some suggestions for how your organization can celebrate BAW: Set up and staff an exhibit table at a local hospital, community center, library, or shopping mall. Distribute the free BAW campaign materials. Promote BAW on your website, or spread the word via social media. Ask your local or state government official to issue a BAW proclamation. Schools: Incorporate daily brain facts or brain fitness tips in your school announcements. Organize a film festival featuring movies about the brain. Follow each film with a brief lecture or discussion. Coordinate a lecture or series of lectures about the brain. Visit local schools to present lectures, hands-on demonstrations, and experiments. Hold an open house to introduce your organization s work to your local community. Include one of the brain-related puzzles available for download on the BAW site in your newsletter or on your website. Organize a brain art, essay, or drama competition for local schoolchildren. Invite your local media representatives to a brain-briefing with your organization. Organize a health fair. Invite local organizations to staff exhibit booths, distribute materials, offer free health screenings, and more. Write letters to the editors of your local newspapers about the importance of brain research. Encourage your constituents to do the same. For more ideas, visit the Tips & Resources and Partner Reports sections of www.dana.org/baw. Brain Awareness Week Campaign Headquarters The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives 505 Fifth Avenue, Sixth Floor New York, New York 10017 Tel: +1 212 401-1689 bawinfo@dana.org