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The recent grant helped the nonprofit with the 2025 Mobius Conference, an annual event held in April, which unites intrepid thought leaders, performers, artists, and pacesetters. With its aim to celebrate the vitality and creativity that exists in the Valley, the conference acts as a vital resource for like-minded souls to connect in a productive and impactful way.

“We couldn’t create the conference programming in an empowering and relevant way if it weren’t for something like The CIELO Fund,” said Tizoc DeAztlan, Executive Director of The Codex Creation Committee. “We create educational programming for students and bring different speakers in front of them to help engage students and get them to learn from one another.”

“The level of what we’re able to produce is not possible if it weren’t for that fund recognizing the needs in our community and making a real direct impact,” he added.

The Mobius Conference uses several key sites throughout the Coachella Valley with varied engagement formats. It rallies a select group of talented students, educators, leaders, and activists striving to positively affect the collective community.

“It’s a unique arts, culture, and politics conference,” DeAztlan said. “The whole purpose is to widen the tent of people having discussions so that folks aren’t having them in silos. We want diverse perspectives; folks from different sectors coming together to meet with students, to share their stories, to discuss problems that are relevant to people here in the Coachella Valley.”

The conference also attracts key speakers who pique student interest.

“This year, we had programs that were dedicated to health and wellness,” DeAztlan said. “We had a program that was dedicated to the performing arts. We had a program that was dedicated to leadership. We had a program that was geared to astronomy, and the Salton Sea, and more science-based.”

“We want to let students know that regardless of what field they are interested in, that there’s always a way to be engaged in your community,” DeAztlan said, “and that there’s always a way to scratch that itch of intellectual curiosity.”

The conference intrigues on a number of levels. One of the programs, “Leadership Sessions,” for instance, was designed to inform individuals how to move confidently forward together. 

Another standout program took place on the grounds of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Codex brought in 100 dance students from throughout the Coachella Valley. They met with entertainment producers AEG Worldwide and Golden Voice team members to discuss career opportunities. 

“The students were able to go into the Yuma Tent to learn choreography from an L.A. choreographer who does big work,” DeAztlan said. “It was a chance to learn from experts but also an opportunity to dance with, celebrate with, and enjoy community with other dancing members throughout the Coachella Valley.”

“We took great pride in bringing those experts and leaders throughout our country to the Coachella Valley to meet with our students,” he added.

While the conference has been running for seven years, the Codex Creation Committee was established approximately 18 months ago. Its dedication to creating a brighter future is key, and it does so, mainly by developing inclusive, thoughtful, and multicultural coding practices. 

DeAztlan also noted that the nonprofit’s main goal is to empower communities through the creation of educational opportunities in a diverse array of mediums—from art, culture, and health to wellness, technology, and entertainment.

However, other initiatives stand out within Codex, particularly Run with Los Muertos. 

The annual event, which unfolds in November, brings together a bevy of runners, artists, teams, groups, musicians, and thousands of attendees throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to celebrate art, wellness, music, and culture.

“The event encompasses a 5K race, a car show, an art show, and art walk, and more,” DeAztlan said. “We have a procession that brings together 20 student organizations to perform. We have multiple stages of entertainment. It just turned into a big block party.”

He said about 7,000 people attended last year. 

“We’d certainly love to have folks support us and join in our efforts,” DeAztlan noted of the road ahead. “We’re trying to create a community where intellectual curiosity is celebrated and where people can find opportunities. And especially for students to find opportunities that help them excel.”

“We want to empower them to look forward to their futures,” he added.

Learn more at codexcreation.com.

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, June 2025.

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A nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing and rewarding school-age youths for positive accomplishments, behavior, and good deeds is in the spotlight for celebrating great work. And for doing their own great work.

Recently, Do The Right Thing —Greater Palm Springs (DTRT) awarded more than $40,000 in scholarships on March 21 and an additional $60,000 on May 21. A grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) funded several of the scholarships given to students from various school districts in the region. 

Scholarship winners included students enrolled in Palm Springs Unified, Desert Sands Unified, or Coachella Valley Unified school districts. 

“The grant allowed us to impact students who otherwise would probably not be able to receive funding,” said Terri Ketover, President and CEO of DTRT. “Our grants or scholarships go to students with no necessary minimum grade point average, which, as you may know, many or most of the programs require at least a 2.6 or 3.0 average.  

“With DTRT, as long as the young person graduates, they’re eligible,” she added. “The only other requirement is that they are economically disadvantaged and need the financial assistance.” 

School counselors help the nonprofit identify young people that fit that profile. Resources from IECF were distributed to students who are pursuing college, junior college, community college, trade school, or even on the job training programs.  

“Funding has a wide variety of usage,” Ketover said.  

“For some of the kids that we fund, they are just transitioning into the workforce, and they’re not continuing any sort of education or training,” she added. “And a lot of our scholarship money goes to help these young people who may have transportation and clothing needs—anything that will help them successfully transition from high school.” 

DTRT is also on the receiving end of its own good deeds.  

Recently, the nonprofit was selected as the 2025 California Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 47. Assemblymember Greg Wallis presented DTRT Vice President Chief Andy Mills with the award at a ceremony held on May 21 in Sacramento. 

Additionally, DTRT was also honored by the Riverside County Juvenile Justice Department as the 2024 Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Program of the Year. 

“In our first two years as a chapter, we have had a tremendous impact,” Ketover said. “We’ve recognized almost 2,000 students from our Valley for their positive attitudes, behaviors, and accomplishments.” 

The regional DTRT has a compelling backstory. 

Ketover, a resident of Miami in the 1990s, became intrigued with the positive impact local students were making. The nonprofit was born during a Miami Police Department awards ceremony when a teenager was recognized by the Chief of Police for turning in a loaded gun found at his school.  

As a resident, Ketover saw first-hand how the teenager was impacted by that positive recognition. Soon enough, she decided to collaborate with the Miami Police Department to develop an ongoing recognition program for students.  

When Ketover moved to Palm Springs, she implemented a plan for the nonprofit to have “chapters.” The local chapter in the Valley strives to ensure that young people are not only rewarded for “doing the right thing” but also publicly recognized as vibrant role models for their peers. 

To that end, the Greater Palm Springs Chapter accepts up to 350 nominations each month from teachers, parents, police officers, and other adults in the community for school-age children in recognition of their good deeds or positive behavior. 

A selection committee helps assist in choosing up to five student winners each month. They are invited to a ceremony at the Palm Springs Police Department, where the Chief of Police awards them plaques and prize packages. Media sponsor KESQ also recognizes these students.  

The first local ceremony took place in April 2023. 

“We have now chartered 70 chapters throughout the United States, including one in Great Britain and three in Germany,” Ketover said. “We have impacted and recognized, through all these chapters, more than half a million young people. 

“I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t get an incredible thrill from the impact it has, not just on the young people, but on their families,” she added. 

Learn more about Do The Right Thing at dotherightthingps.org

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, June 2025.

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 A recent grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) through the Riverside County ARPA Fund has allowed Rising Stars Business Academy (RSBA) to pilot a unique culinary career pathways initiative that guides and assists teenagers and young adults along their career paths.

Benedito Orduno, Director of Development of RSBA, said the IECF resources were a big asset to the nonprofit youth development organization, which offers leadership development, life skills training, education, counseling, support services, and various career pathways to those ages 16 to 24.

“The goal is to get our young people into careers where they can get a livable income and give them the transferable skills that they need and get them career-ready,” Orduno added. “We had construction as one of our pathways and we know that the culinary world is another pathway that a lot of our sister programs offer.”

Orduno said attendees of the program cooked at least two to three days out of the week and every Friday for the organization’s staff and their own peers.

“They were able to also cater at an outside event, and earn money,” Orduno said. “We wanted them to get stipends for learning that trade.”

It’s one of many stand-out components of the nonprofit, which was established in 2010 in Moreno Valley as a stand-alone YouthBuild program.One significant focus has been to motivate, educate, and train individuals to become leaders and positive members of the community.

​As of 2024, RSBA has helped 600 students graduate from their YouthBuild program. Many of those students went on to pursue college, professional vocational training, entrepreneurship, military, and employment with great success.

This year, the organization hits a new milestone.

“We will be celebrating our 15th year,” said Alicia Berridge, RSBA Executive Director. We actually opened up in 2010 right here in Moreno Valley. “We’re excited to offer life skills, and wanted to make our program different, almost like a one-stop shop.”

It was also important for the nonprofit to include leadership development and mentorship in its agenda.

“What we figured out is not every young person is going to go straight into college, but that they can still be successful,” Berridge added.

To that end, the nonprofit incorporated what it calls the “Four Tracks to Success.” 

“We introduce them to college, vocational training, military, and business/entrepreneurship,” Berridge noted. “And of course, jobs. Because we figure by the time they leave us, they’re going to be introduced, or they’ll go into, one of those fields.”

The nonprofit’s partnership with YouthBuild Charter School of California is also key.

“Any young person that is accepted into Rising Stars Business Academy, because we are a youth leadership development program, they also have the opportunity to gain an accredited high school diploma,” Berridge explained. “We really want to see our young people have a second chance because some of them just don’t fit into the traditional high school.”

“That being said, they come to our program, which is a smaller environment, more intimate, and that way, they can continue their education, and we can support them,” she added.

Learn more at rsbacademy.org.

This article originally appeared in the Press-Enterprise, March 2025.

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