The County of Riverside said "Raising the Future" is a free, one-day empowerment event for youth and adults on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Riverside County Office of Education Indio Conference Center, 83-625 Dr. Carreon Blvd., Indio; admission and registration are free, the county said.

The county described the event as a collaboration among community-based organizations, county departments and education; Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez said, "When we bring education, community organizations, public agencies, and families together around a shared purpose, we have the power to change the trajectory of a young person’s life."

The program will offer youth and adult workshops in leadership, career development and wellness; the county said the event will feature live music, entertainment, free food and more than $10,000 in scholarships and giveaways.

Keynote speakers will include Scott Budnick, identified by the county as a film and television producer and justice reform advocate, and Dr. Victor Rios, identified by the county as a tenured professor at UC Santa Barbara and an author and researcher on youth resilience.

Riverside County Supervisor is listed as a special guest; Supervisor Perez said, "I started this path with our County Probation Department to create action to bring about change at reducing youth incarceration." Assistant Chief Probation Officer Natalie Rivera said, "Raising the Future is about connecting people with resources, relationships, and experiences that will continue making a difference long after the event is over."

The county said American Sign Language and Spanish translation will be available. The county listed official sponsors including the Riverside County Office of Education, CBO Alliance, The Exception, PNC Bank, Riverside County Probation and Supervisor V. Manuel Perez.

Ramon J. Ramos, identified by the county as founder and president of The Exception and the CBO Alliance and a lead organizer of the event, said, "Raising the Future was born out of a vision to bring our communities and public systems together, not just to provide resources for a day, but to build meaningful relationships and create lasting opportunities for the people we serve." The county encouraged community members to register online.

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V. Manuel Perez

Supervisor, Fourth District, Riverside County Board of Supervisors

Named 3 times in this story.

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County of Riverside

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