Cultivating Community, Nurturing Wellness: A Recap of the 2025 Inland Empire Mental Health Summit
On Saturday, June 14, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire hosted its 2025 Mental Health Summit, bringing together more than 100 youth, families, mentors, and community members for a day of reflection, empowerment, and hope. Centered on the theme “Cultivating Community, Nurturing Wellness,” the event took place at the Riverside County Office of Education Conference Center in a welcoming, supportive environment designed to normalize conversations around youth mental health and build lasting connections.
A Day of Connection, Learning, and Impact
The Mental Health Summit featured a diverse lineup of activities aimed at exploring the intersection of mental health and mentorship. From interactive youth and parent panels to age-appropriate breakout sessions and a vibrant community resource fair, attendees were given multiple avenues to engage, share, and learn.
Event Highlights Included:
- Welcome remarks were delivered by Dominique Samario, Big Sister and Chief Strategic Partnerships & Communications Officer, Riverside County Office of Education. The keynote address on “IEHP’s role in Community Wellness” was provided by Cesar Armendariz, Senior Director of Community Health, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP).
- During our youth panel, moderated by Miranda Canseco, former Big Sister and Public Information Officer, San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, four youth panelists bravely sharing their mental health journeys, offering honest reflections that resonated across generations.
- Breakout sessions led by Big Brothers Big Sisters staff in collaboration with mentors and professionals in social work, education, and behavioral health.
- Community Resource Fair featuring 12 local partners connecting families to critical services and support networks beyond the summit.
Powerful Takeaways from Participants
What made the day truly unforgettable were the stories. Young people stood up and spoke about anxiety, identity, isolation—and the people and tools that helped them get through. Parents talked about what it means to raise a child in today’s world, and how mentorship provided light during dark times. Youth reflected:
“Being quiet makes your thoughts loud—I need to express myself more.”
“I learned that my inner circle is more than just family.”
The Impact Was Real—and Measurable
After the summit we surveyed parents/guardians who revealed strong support for the summit’s impact:
- 95% of parents reported being satisfied with the overall experience.
- 85% said they now better understand their support networks.
Harder—but far more important—is capturing the feeling in the room. There were parents who said it was the first time they’d ever talked openly about mental health in a group setting. One caregiver said it best:
“We’re all going through something—and events like this remind us we’re not alone.”
The Power of Mentorship and Mental Health Support
At the heart of the summit was a simple but powerful belief: healing happens in community. Through mentorship, youth are gaining the confidence to speak up. Through safe spaces like this summit, families are finding connection—not just to services, but to each other.
Workshops were led by mentors, social workers, educators, and mental health professionals, who volunteered their time and expertise to pour into our youth and their caregivers. Thanks to generous in-kind support from Living Spaces and other local businesses, many families left with more than just resources—they left with a sense of being seen and valued.
Thank You to Our Partners
We’re deeply grateful to the Tarsadia Foundation and Teichert Foundation, whose support helped make this event possible.
If you joined us on June 14 as featured speaker, presenter, or community partner—thank you for showing up to educate and support family mental wellness in the Inland Empire. If you’re a Big or Little who attended, we hope the summit reminded you: your voice matters. You matter.
And if you’re a funder looking to support real change in youth mental health, we invite you to help us grow this work.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
The 2025 Mental Health Summit proved what’s possible when a community comes together. We’re already dreaming of next year and the lives we’ll continue to impact through mentorship and mental health support.
Contact us to learn more about how Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire is making a difference and get involved in future events.
