www.wlfdesert.org The mental health of our children is one of the most important issues facing the Coachella Valley today. While there is no single solution, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert believes one powerful part of the answer is simple: connection. That is why we are hosting our second annual Walk & Wellness Festival on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Old Town La Quinta, from 9 a.m-12 p.m. Designed to bring youth, families and community members together, the event begins with a scenic walk from Main Street to the La Quinta Community Park. The route will feature fun fitness activities such as jump rope, hula hoop challenges, basketball tosses, and other interactive stations that encourage movement while providing a healthy break from screens and video games. The celebration continues with wellness vendors, health resources and interactive demonstrations of yoga, Pilates and tai chi. Families can also enjoy a Kids Zone with crafts, face painting, games and other activities. Raffle prizes and goodie bags will add to the fun. Proceeds from the event directly support BBBS's free one-to-one mentoring programs, providing valley youth with support aimed at building confidence, developing healthy relationships and learning to navigate life's challenges. We hope to see you there! Tickets for the walk are $35 for adults and $20 for children (under 5 are free). The wellness festival is free and open to all. For more information and registration, visit www.BBBSdesert.org (see Events) or call (760) 568.3977. Two prominent public health leaders will headline the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation's third annual Healthy Desert, Healthy You Summit, bringing decades of experience in health equity, healthcare access and population health to our valley. The event takes place Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage and registration is free. Together, the two speakers will help frame this year’s focus on addressing the social determinants of health that shape the well-being of Coachella Valley residents, including healthcare access, behavioral and mental health, healthcare workforce development and housing. Angelica Geter, DrPH, a nationally recognized public health strategist, will open the day's keynote presentations. She served as chief health officer for the City of Atlanta and senior health and equity advisor for 26Health's Atlanta expansion, where she helped expand healthcare access for more than 300,000 residents. As one of the consultants guiding the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation's new five-year strategic plan, Dr. Geter has spent months meeting with nonprofit organizations, community leaders and residents throughout the valley. Later, attendees will hear from Takashi Wada, MD, MPH, vice president of population health and CalAIM, California’s initiative to improve Medi-Cal services, for the Inland Empire Health Plan. As the summit's “Call to Action” keynote speaker, he will challenge the audience to turn inspiration into action and answer the question: What can I do to help? Local media personalities will serve as panel moderators, including NBC Palm Springs’ Thalia Hayden and Olivia Sandusky; KESQ’s Katie Boer, Patrick Evans and Laurilie Jackson; KUNA Telemundo’s Herán Quintas; The Palm Springs Post’s Kendall Balchan andDesert Health’s Lauren Del Sarto. For more information and registration, visit www.HealthyDesertHealthyYou.com. www.DesertHealthNews.com September/October 2026 Desert Events The Valley's Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 22 ROOTS & REACH September 10 | 5:30–7:30PM We are kicking off the 2026–2027 season with a theme that captures everything WLF is about: Roots & Reach. SPONSORED BY Let’s Interact presentations take place at Classic Club, 75200 Classic Club Blvd., Palm Dersert. For tickets and more information visit wlfdesert.org HER HEALTH October 1 | 5:30–7:30PM Your health is your most valuable asset, and this evening is dedicated to it. Enjoy a panel of health professionals who will inform and educate on the topics that matter most to women. SPONSORED BY YWL SPEAKER Kimberly Krause Business Owner Konnection Certification Inc. KEYNOTE SPEAKER Katie Slimko-Tuvell, IOM President & CEO Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce WLF is a non-pro t organization bringing together women leaders of the Coachella Valley to network, volunteer, and fundraise for the advancement of the next generation. SEASON OPENER Summit to Feature Prominent Public Health Leaders Activities and experiences will encourage movement for all ages. Angelica Geter, DrPH Takashi Wada, MD, MPH Walk & Wellness Festival Brings Community Together By Judy Tobin May Schools face a growing number of emergencies from medical incidents and behavioral health crises to fires, severe weather, hazardous materials and acts of violence. Emergency responders play a vital role, but in the initial minutes of a crisis, those already on campus are often the first to act. Coachella Valley educators, administrators, school safety personnel and community partners can learn how to better prepare by attending the Incident Management Summit Oct. 5-6 at Wellspring Church in Indian Wells. Hosted by Code-4 Forums: Project, Prepare, Protect and supported by our local high school medical health academies, the event will provide practical, real-world strategies that can be implemented immediately. Luncheon speakers include Opal Singleton, president and CEO of Million Kids, a Riverside-based nonprofit that works to prevent human trafficking and child exploitation, and an adviser to the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force. She will be joined by Tom Mauser, whose son, Daniel, was killed in the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. Singleton will address the growing dangers facing youth in digital environments, including sextortion, AI-generated deepfakes, chatbots, online exploitation and the use of digital currency to trap and control young victims. All are invited to attend this event uniting some of the brightest minds in public safety, emergency response, education and administration. Discover cutting-edge strategies, tools and best practices to create safer, more resilient campuses and organizations. Tickets for the two-day summit are $350/person or $500/two guests. Oct. 5-6 at Wellspring Church in Indian Wells. For more information and registration, visit www.incidentmanagementsummit.org. Incident Management Summit Helps Schools Prepare for Emergencies
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