On July 3 in Fort Worth, the Mensa Foundation Challenge returns for its second year as one of the signature events of the American Mensa Annual Gathering. This year brings a new format. Seven people with ideas will take the stage, each sharing a real problem and a proposed solution with an audience of Mensa members and Foundation supporters in a focused sprint designed to move ideas forward.
This year’s participants reflect the breadth of what it means to unleash intelligence for the benefit of humanity.
Keith Thompson is tackling America’s literacy crisis. With more than half of American adults reading below a sixth-grade level, Keith is working with Northern New Jersey Mensa to promote phonics-based reading instruction and connect families with free resources to address the gap.
Jacob Miller is working to sustain Aggieland Pets With A Purpose, a 25-year-old therapy dog organization in the Brazos Valley facing an aging membership and growing community demand. Jacob is developing a recruitment and training strategy to bring new handlers into a program that delivers measurable health outcomes for the communities it serves.
Ishaant Majumdar, a high school student from Frisco, Texas, has built ClimateShield AI, a platform that predicts neighborhood-level environmental health risks up to 72 hours in advance. His work addresses a critical gap in public warning systems for heat, air quality, and dust events that disproportionately harm vulnerable communities.
JJ Mata is exploring the concept of a Brain Gym, a membership-based facility designed to give neurodivergent adults, gifted individuals, and lifelong learners a dedicated space to exercise their minds. The Brain Gym would bring together elements of a library, makerspace, creative studio, and sensory wellness space into a community-centered environment built around cognitive fitness.
Anton Anderssen is developing a Purpose from Home model to help mobility-limited adults remain connected to meaningful service. The model focuses on low-barrier, high-dignity ways for older adults and people with disabilities to contribute to their communities without requiring physical mobility.
Darris Mishler II is building ChartQuest, a platform that transforms complex medical records into plain-language summaries and personalized health action steps. With nearly nine in ten Americans lacking proficient health literacy, ChartQuest aims to close the gap between having health data and being able to act on it.
Ajani Abdul-Khaliq is working to adapt a proven, high-innovation education model to community settings in rural Georgia, creating pathways for upskilling and economic mobility in communities that have been left behind by rapid changes in industry and technology.
The Mensa Foundation Challenge is free and open to all Annual Gathering registrants. Each participant is bringing a real idea and a genuine need for input. Whether you have expertise in technology, education, health, community organizing, or simply a sharp mind and a willingness to engage, your presence matters. Come ready to roll up your sleeves and help shape what comes next. To learn more about the Foundation’s work, visit [website link].
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