Join us for Be Kind to Your Mind Mental Health & Well-Being Festival on Saturday, May 10th at the Genoveva Chavez Center — and we can’t wait to gather with you for this special day of care, connection, and community.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this festival is a reminder of something we all need to hear: you deserve to be kind to your mind. Whether it’s through movement, creativity, reflection, or simply showing up — this day is about creating space to care for ourselves and each other.

Here’s what’s in store:

Opening Session: 10:00–10:45 AM

Keynote Speaker: Mark Garnand
Mark shares his powerful story of healing and hope, rooted in lived experience and deep compassion for those walking their own path of recovery.

Live Music by Nacha Mendez
Let your heart be lifted by the soulful, healing sounds of Santa Fe’s own Nacha Mendez.

MC: Craig O’Hare
The Life Link’s Board Chair and a longtime mental health advocate, Craig brings personal insight and warmth to guide our morning together.

Morning Workshop Sessions (11:00 AM – 12:15 PM):

The Joy of Movement – Nia Class
With Kelle Rae Oien & Kate Latimer, move your body, calm your mind, and reconnect with joy in a space full of energy, expression, and ease.

Art Therapy for Self-Care
With Denise Moore & Angelica Gabriel, explore creative practices to support emotional regulation and inner balance—no art skills needed.

Cultivating Compassion
Led by Arthur Salazar, this session invites us to hold ourselves and others with more understanding, reducing stigma and opening space for healing.

12:15–12:45 PM – Free Lunch + Visit Resource Tables + Get Your T-shirt
Enjoy a nourishing meal and connect with community partners offering mental health and wellness support.

Afternoon Workshop Sessions (12:45 – 2:00 PM):

The Healing Power of Poetry
Led by Santa Fe’s Poet Laureate, this gentle and expressive workshop invites you to explore the written word as a path to healing and connection.

Relationships That Heal
Discover how compassion and community can help prevent harm and strengthen the bonds that support lasting well-being.

Picturing a Positive You – Art Therapy Workshop
Reflect on your strengths and inner light through a guided, mirror-based art experience designed to help you see yourself with more kindness and clarity.

Event Details at a Glance:

Genoveva Chavez Community Center
Saturday, May 10th | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Free lunch by What the Truck Catering served at 12:15 PM
Free t-shirts while supplies last
Community resource tables

This festival is our invitation to slow down, connect, and remember that being kind to your mind isn’t just an idea—it’s a practice we can share and grow together.

We hope to see you there.

No RSVP needed—just come as you are

For more information or if you have questions please contact Elizabeth Carovillano ecarovillano@thelifelink.org

2025 Be Kind to Your Mind Mental Health Festival

In Honor of Mental Health Awareness Month