Celebrate Deborah's Life Through a Memorial Donation
Deborah McNelis served as a cherished member of The Powerful Project's board, bringing her expertise in early brain development, trauma-informed care, and deep compassion to our mission. Her guidance helped strengthen our programs focused on emotional well-being and community healing. We lost Deborah this fall, but her impact on our organization and the families we serve continues.
Your gift honors Deborah’s life and the love she shared with others. Thank you for giving.
Deborah McNelis was a pioneer in early brain development whose career spanned nearly five decades. From her start as a kindergarten teacher to becoming an internationally recognized speaker and author, she carried one guiding conviction: every child deserves to be nurtured with love and intention. Her mission led her to create Brain Insights, LLC — a company dedicated to making brain development information simple and accessible for all.
She was best known for creating the Neuro-Nurturing® model and launching the “First 60 Days” movement, which emphasized how the earliest moments of life shape long-term emotional, physical, and cognitive health. Her age-specific Neuro-Nurturing® Interaction Packets, tools, and educational resources empowered parents, educators, and health professionals around the world. Her work helped shift the global understanding of what children truly need to thrive — connection, consistency, and responsive care.
Deborah also made a meaningful impact through her work with The Powerful Project, where she offered her insight, compassion, and expertise to support programs focused on emotional well-being, trauma-informed care, and community healing. Her voice helped strengthen conversations around resilience and the power of nurturing relationships — themes deeply aligned with her life’s mission. Beyond her professional achievements, she was known for her warmth, generosity, and unwavering belief in human potential. Her legacy continues through the lives she touched, the children and families she supported, and the organizations she uplifted with her passion and wisdom.
Beyond her professional achievements, Deborah was known for her warmth, generosity, and unwavering belief in human potential. She had a rare gift for making everyone she encountered feel seen and valued. Her legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched the children who benefited from her research, the parents and educators she empowered, the colleagues she inspired, and the communities she strengthened with her passion and wisdom.