Long before the doors of Veterans Memorial Hall opened to hundreds of excited families, the idea for the first-ever Family Wellbeing Festival in San Benito County had already taken root. It began during the 2023–24 school year, when members of the Mental Health Provider Network — a collaboration of all mental health practitioners providing services to students in the county coordinated by the San Benito County Office of Education’s Student Services Team — began conversations about how to better support students and families across Hollister and beyond with accessible, stigma-free mental health resources.

As the school year kicked off in August, a deeper conversation emerged among stakeholders at the Mental Health Lead Network about the gaps in access, awareness, and engagement when it came to mental health and wellness supports. While there was agreement across the board that families in the county needed more support, there was also a strong consensus that language and framing mattered. The term “Mental Health Fair,” though technically accurate, raised concerns that it might deter participation due to lingering stigma around mental health. The group wanted to create something welcoming and inclusive — a space that celebrated well-being, resilience, and connection.

The San Benito County Office of Education was the driving force behind bringing this vision to life. SBCOE serves a community located in Central California. It is a rural, yet growing region known for its rich agricultural heritage, scenic landscapes, and tight-knit community. Nestled between the coastal mountains and the Central Valley, the county is home to rolling hills, vineyards, and historic towns like Hollister and San Juan Bautista. While it maintains a small-town feel, San Benito is increasingly diverse, with a growing population of families, farmworkers, and commuters seeking a quieter lifestyle within reach of the Bay Area. The community places strong value on education, cultural traditions, and collaboration, making it a unique blend of old charm and emerging opportunity.

From the beginning, the tone was set by a commitment to cross-agency collaboration. The effort was led by Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Gwen Baquiran, Director of Prevention and Intervention Amber Lister, and Mental Health Coordinator Adina Austin, along with representatives from every school district in the county and San Benito County Behavioral Health. Monthly meetings began in earnest, bringing together voices from across the community to plan an event that would serve the diverse needs of San Benito families. The committee focused on building something both meaningful and impactful. Baquiran’s vision expanded the scope of the event beyond local supports — she advocated for inviting statewide agencies to participate in person, ensuring families would have access to the broadest range of services available. Baquiran took the helm when it came to coordinating agencies and securing donated raffle items from each agency to serve as family incentives for attendance. SBCOE’s leadership was under the direction of County Superintendent Krystal Lomanto, who is a strong advocate for supporting the whole child’s needs, including wellness and mental health. Much of the funding support was provided by the CalHope Social Emotional Learning and Wellness Grant, allowing the team to offer free dinner to all attendees and giveaway bags that included social-emotional learning focused, developmentally appropriate books. In addition, SBCOE put together an English and Spanish pocket guide to local mental health supports with access numbers that was placed in the giveaway bags.

As planning continued through the fall and winter, the event began to take shape. The focus would be on holistic well-being, not just addressing mental health challenges, but uplifting the strength and resilience already present in the community. With this in mind, the committee landed on a name that reflected that spirit: Family Wellbeing Festival with the theme “Empowering Families, Thriving Within Your Community.” Once the title was finalized, the committee relied on the expertise of the county public information officer, who filmed several planning committee members recording funny snippets in both English and Spanish inviting the public to register for the event. Part of the marketing strategy was to involve planning committee members from various organizations who then reposted their teaser videos to various social media networks for higher reach. On the evening of March 20, 2025, the vision became reality. While we prepared for 250 attendees and were nervous there would be empty seats, over 500 people registered. On the day of the event, the hall buzzed with energy as over 400 community members attended the inaugural festival. More than 20 local, regional, and statewide organizations came together to provide families with access to mental health resources, wellness activities, and a variety of community-based services.

Families were greeted at the door with smiles, information, and a three-course dinner. The festival atmosphere was lighthearted and welcoming, with community members mingling, exploring booths, and engaging in hands-on activities. Children participated in a passport activity for a chance at raffle prizes for visiting every booth. All involved were able to walk through a state-of-the-art wellness center demonstration put together by SBCOE that included QR codes for families to access more information on how to implement calming corners at home. Families had the opportunity to speak directly with providers, gather resources, and build relationships with local support networks. Some of the most powerful moments of the night came during the student performances. Students from Rancho Santana School, Aromas-San Juan Unified School District, Hollister Dual Language Academy, and Hollister High School took the stage with pieces inspired by social-emotional learning and mental health. Their performances — including poetry, dance, and music — brought to life the evening’s theme: “Empowering Families, Thriving Within Your Community.”

Each act was a reminder that mental health and emotional wellness aren’t abstract concepts — they are lived experiences, especially for young people. The courage and creativity students displayed resonated deeply with the audience, drawing cheers, laughter, and tears.

The festival’s success was no accident. It was the product of months of coordinated effort, shared vision, and a deep belief in the power of community. Agencies large and small came together to provide resources tailored to the needs of San Benito families.

These included:

By creating a space where all of these services could be accessed in one evening, the event lowered barriers to support and reinforced the idea that mental health is a shared community priority.

The resounding feedback from attendees, participants, and providers made one thing clear: This couldn’t just be a one-time event. Plans are already underway to make the Family Wellbeing Festival an annual tradition. The goal is not only to sustain the momentum, but to expand the reach, deepen partnerships, and build an even more robust network of supports.

For the San Benito County Office of Education, the event exemplifies what’s possible when education, health, and community organizations work hand in hand. It also highlights the importance of listening — to families, to students, and to the professionals on the front lines — when designing systems of support.

At its core, the Family Wellbeing Festival was about showing up — for our children, for each other, and for the future of San Benito County. It proved that even as a small county, amid challenges, our community is capable of creating beautiful, meaningful experiences that uplift and inspire. One evening, one festival, one shared vision — and hundreds of families reminded that they are not alone. That’s the power of community. And that’s what makes San Benito shine.

As Baquiran emphasized during the course of the event, “This festival has been part of my vision from the start — to create a space where families feel seen, supported, and connected. When we listen to our community and work together across systems, we can build something truly meaningful that lasts beyond just one evening.”

The community partners would agree, this event was just the beginning. With continued collaboration, creativity, and compassion, the possibilities for what San Benito can build together are endless.