Blue Zones Project Coachella (BZPC) celebrated August with its Ultimate End of Summer Wellness Festival on Saturday, Aug. 8, at Rancho 51 in Coachella. Over 780 community members and 40 community partners came together for a day of wellness, family fun and valuable resources.
The festival demonstrated an important part of the Blue Zones Project approach: improving community health by building community partnerships that can continue creating impact well beyond the BZPC term.
Families enjoyed water slides and activities, a foam party, yoga, meditation and other opportunities for movement and connection. Guests enjoyed a cooking demonstration by local chef Carlos Duarte, who showed that healthy eating doesn’t have to sacrifice flavor.
Blue Zones-approved foods and healthy refreshments were provided by El Tranvia restaurant, while Hidden Harvest and FIND Food Bank provided fresh fruit, vegetables and food resources. Families also received backpacks, school supplies and clothing.
Beyond the festivities, the event created meaningful connections to health care and social services. Riverside University Health System (RUHS) made 92 connections with individuals and families, provided seven referrals for additional services and collected eight Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS)-related surveys, which measure performance on important dimensions of care and services. Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) connected with approximately 130 individuals and families and provided eight referrals for additional services.
St. John’s Community Health reached 125 individuals and families, resulting in 12 appointments, seven physicals, three vaccinations and two connections to other services. The Autism Booth made 120 connections, with two people registering for services, while Visión y Compromiso reached 125 individuals and families and generated nine mental health service sign-ups.
These outcomes show how community events can turn engagement into action. Connecting residents with physicals, vaccinations, referrals, screenings and follow-up services can also support health care organizations working to improve HEDIS performance, particularly measures focused on preventive care and access to appropriate health services.
“Events like this show what is possible when our community comes together,” said BZPC Executive Director Angela Zepeda. “The Ultimate End of Summer Wellness Festival created a place where everyone could have fun, connect with their neighbors, discover wellness resources and experience that healthy living can be enjoyable and accessible.”
The festival highlighted BZPC’s larger goal of creating sustainable community change by building a network of healthcare providers, nonprofits, businesses, community organizations and residents. Through collaboration, this network can help make the healthy choice the easy choice and create lasting pathways to healthier families.
To get involved in Palm Springs, contact bzppalmsprings@bluezones.com, or in Coachella, bzpcoachella@bluezones.com. Visit www.bluezonesprojectps.com or www.bluezonesprojectcoachella.com.
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