Join TruEvolution on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Riverside Convention Center for an unforgettable evening where purpose meets possibility.
As the sun sets, Golden Hour begins – a moment to celebrate, connect, and ignite what comes next.
This year’s Legacy Ball is a call to action. Our gala, themed Golden Hour, reflects the critical window of opportunity before us: a time when bold investment and collective action can shape the future of health, housing, and opportunity for the communities we serve.
Together, we will honor the leaders, advocates, and partners advancing health equity, expanding housing, strengthening workforce pathways, and building power within LGBTQ+ communities.
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Meet Our Honorees
Jesse Melgar is a civic entrepreneur whose career has focused on advancing equity at the intersection of public policy, philanthropy, and public affairs. He has held senior leadership roles advising U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Latino Legislative Caucus, and Equality California.
Jesse is the first LGBTQ+ Board Chair of the Inland Empire Community Foundation, founder and chair of the CIELO Fund for Latino Empowerment, and co-founder of the Out in the IE LGBTQ Empowerment Fund.He is also a co-founder of the Inland Empire LGBTQ+ Center powered by TruEvolution.
Governor Newsom appointed Jesse to the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. He lives in Palm Springs with his husband, Angel.
Jeffrey S. Crowley, MPH is a Distinguished Scholar and Director of the Center for HIV and Infectious Disease Policy of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown Law and an adjunct professor of law.
Crowley’s work has focused on federal health care policy with an emphasis on Medicaid, Medicare, and issues impacting people with HIV and other people with disabilities, as well as low-income people. From 2009 to 2011, he was the Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) and Senior Advisor on Disability Policy for President Barack Obama.
In this capacity, he led the development of the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States and he served on the White House Health Team during the enactment and early implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In 2019, he was appointed to a National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Committee on the Prevention and Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the United States that released its report in March 2021 for which he served as an editor, Sexually Transmitted Infections: Adopting a Sexual Health Paradigm.
With a career spanning more than four decades in public health and social justice, primarily focused on addressing HIV disparities, Tim Vincent has dedicated his life to advancing health equity and community empowerment.
Ten years ago, Tim and his husband, Michael Taylor, relocated to Palm Springs.Along with a small group of Black gay men, they co-founded Brothers of the Desert, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower and support Black gay men and their allies throughout the Coachella Valley. The organization’s signature event, the annual Wellness Summit, draws more than 250 participants each year and has become a cornerstone of community engagement and wellness.
Since Brothers of the Desert attained nonprofit status more than six years ago, Tim has served as President of the Board of Directors. He considers helping to create and grow the organization to be the honor of his lifetime.
In recognition of his leadership and service, Tim has received the James Baldwin Legacy Award from the National Black Justice Coalition and the Pioneer Award from SAGE.
Sky Allen is the Executive Director of Inland Empire United. She was born, raised, and educated in the region, and she has committed herself to investing into the community that raised her.
She got her start in organizing as a policy fellow with the Warehouse Worker Resource Center before working as IE United's Program Director from 2019-2022.
As Program Director, she managed the table's Census outreach, Redistricting advocacy, Justice Leadership Academy, and electoral field campaigns.
As Executive Director, she has expanded the organization's capacity to include narrative change, advocacy and accountability organizing, and brought Local Progress' flagship program, the Collaborative Governance Academy, to our region to support local elected officials. She earned her Bachelor's Degree at UCR and her Masters in Public Policy at UCLA.
DAP Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center committed to advancing health equity and ensuring access to compassionate, high-quality healthcare for all people, regardless of insurance status, income, gender identity, sexual orientation, or background. Serving communities throughout Riverside and San Diego Counties, DAP Health provides comprehensive primary care, behavioral health, dental services, specialty care, HIV prevention and treatment, sexual wellness services, care coordination, and supportive services designed to address both medical and social determinants of health.
For more than four decades, DAP Health has been a leader in responding to community health needs, particularly within LGBTQ+ communities and among individuals impacted by HIV. Through innovative partnerships, patient-centered care, and a commitment to reducing barriers to access, DAP Health continues to improve health outcomes and create healthier, more equitable communities where every person has the opportunity to thrive.
The AMAAD Institute (Arming Minorities Against Addiction & Disease) is a South Los Angeles–rooted, community‑based organization dedicated to advancing health, housing, and hope for communities most impacted by systemic inequities. AMAAD provides holistic, culturally responsive services that support wellness, behavioral health, stable housing, and leadership development.
Through peer‑driven programs, trauma‑informed care, and affirming community spaces, AMAAD fosters environments where individuals can live, learn, and thrive with dignity and agency. The organization serves youth, LGBTQ+ communities, formerly incarcerated individuals, and families navigating economic, social, and health‑related barriers.
Over the years, AMAAD has grown into a trusted anchor institution, blending direct services with cultural events, education, and advocacy to strengthen community resilience and cultivate the next generation of leaders committed to collective liberation and long‑term impact.
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