March 5, 2026

Karla Diaz Unity Project

Share

Karla Diaz’s Unity Project returns for a 2026 festival in Borrego Springs with public portrait banners at The Mall, a Unity Walk, and a Community Unity Festival.


Karla Diaz’s Unity Project returns to Borrego Springs in 2026 for its third community-responsive activation, continuing a unity-focused effort she launched in 2024. The project combines a community run/walk, public programming, and painting with the goal of creating safe spaces for healing, art, and collective storytelling.


After a year-long residency, research, and a series of community-led workshops, the Unity Project culminates in three core components: a community run/walk event, two public portrait banners inspired by Diaz’s interactions and workshops, and an exhibition of her watercolor works on paper. Diaz’s work centers narrative, identity, and memory as a way to generate collaboration and dialogue among diverse communities.



Two portrait banners—We are a community and Misses Borrego—are installed on the east side of The Mall and remain on view through April 5, 2026. The project was developed in close collaboration with OLAX (Organización de Latinx de Borrego Springs) and Esmeralda Lopez, with special thanks to the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center and The Mall.


The 2026 gathering is designed as a community celebration dedicated to art and unity. It begins with a collective run/walk and then continues with a public event at the Community Resource Center featuring food, interactive arts programming, entertainment, and information on community resources—built to be inclusive and centered on unity and the exchange of stories through art.


Event Info


Unity Walk with artist Karla Diaz


  • Date: March 7, 2026 (Part of 2026 Opening Day)
  • Start/End: Borrego Springs Community Resource Center
  • Address: 587 Palm Canyon Dr., Suite 125, Borrego Springs, CA (The Mall)
  • Details: Guided meditation led by Rossy Sanchez (Yellow Woman Ranch), followed by an all-ages jog/walk less than one mile.


Community Unity Festival


  • Date: March 7, 2026 (Part of 2026 Opening Day)
  • Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm
  • Location: Borrego Springs Community Resource Center
  • Address: 587 Palm Canyon Dr., Suite 125, Borrego Springs, CA (The Mall)
  • Details: Music, community resource information, ceramic workshop with Candlewood artist Ako Castuera, plus free food and free swag courtesy of Candlewood and Savage Beeches. Free and family-friendly.





Learn More About Borrego Springs

By Andrea McKenna July 18, 2026
The Ipay Nation of Santa Ysabel invites the public to its 3rd Annual Summer Fest today from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Santa Ysabel Tribal Ball Field , 23013 Highway 79. Located about 46 miles from Borrego Springs , the free community event features something for all ages, including craft vendors, food vendors, carnival rides, games, raffles, live music by Natural Selection , and a variety of family-friendly activities throughout the day. The day's schedule includes: 12 p.m. – Craft booths, food vendors, carnival rides, raffle and 50/50 drawing. 1:30 p.m. – Horseshoe tournament (blind draw), Bingo and a bicycle rodeo. 6 p.m. – Child and adult games, including a watermelon eating contest, egg relay, sack race, whipped cream challenge, hair braiding contest and an Indian Crab Challenge. The event is free and open to the public , with all are welcome to attend.
By East County News Service July 18, 2026
East County News Services Looking for an affordable summer outing? San Diego residents can visit select Balboa Park museums free every Tuesday through the park's popular Free Museum Tuesdays program. Each Tuesday features a different participating museum, but on the first Tuesday of every month , residents receive free admission to both the Fleet Science Center and the San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) . Visitors simply need to bring a valid photo ID or other proof of San Diego County residency. The recently updated San Diego Natural History Museum offers five floors of exhibits, including displays on Southern California's unique wildlife, fossils and conservation. One featured exhibit showcases artwork created from plastic collected along shorelines, highlighting the impact of marine pollution. Just steps away, the Fleet Science Center has also undergone recent renovations and features hands-on science exhibits, interactive displays and activities designed for visitors of all ages. Parking can also help keep the day budget-friendly. Several free parking lots are available throughout Balboa Park, and the City of San Diego has temporarily paused parking enforcement in many areas through early next year, making it easier for visitors to enjoy the park without added expense. Free Museum Tuesdays rotate participating museums each week, giving residents the opportunity to explore many of Balboa Park's cultural attractions throughout the month. For the current schedule and additional information, visit balboapark.org .  ---------- Located about 90 miles southwest of Borrego Springs, Balboa Park makes for an easy day trip, offering San Diego County residents free admission to select museums every Tuesday through the Free Museum Tuesdays program.
By Andrea McKenna July 18, 2026
Looking for a fun way to beat the summer heat?
By Karen Pearlman July 17, 2026
Photo courtesy County of San Diego
By BSCCA Board July 16, 2026
Celebrating another year of exceptional performances while bringing free concerts to local school children.
By Andrea McKenna July 16, 2026
Adults looking for a fun way to stay active are invited to join Baila Borrego , a free weekly Latin dance workout at the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center . The 30-minute class is held every Thursday from 11 to 11:30 a.m. at the Community Resource Center, 587 Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 125 , in Borrego Springs. Led by former Zumba instructor Rossy Sanchez , the class combines Latin-inspired dance movements with a light workout designed to get participants moving while enjoying music in a welcoming, social environment. No registration is required, making it easy for residents to drop in and participate. Participants are encouraged to wear shoes that glide comfortably on the floor for dancing. The class is open to adults only , and child care is provided during the session, helping make the program accessible for parents and caregivers. Baila Borrego is one of several free wellness and community programs offered through the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center , which provides educational, health and family support services for local residents. For more information, contact Martha Deichler at 619-948-5900 . What: Baila Borrego – Free Latin Dance Workout When: Thursdays, 11:00–11:30 a.m. Where: Borrego Springs Community Resource Center, 587 Palm Canyon Dr., Suite 125, Borrego Springs Cost: Free Registration: Not required
By Andrea McKenna July 16, 2026
Weekly class invites musicians and singers ages 10 to 18 to explore rock-and-roll music from the 1960s through today.
By Matt Bosson BSFI July 15, 2026
Free Summer Movies Continue in Borrego Springs This July
By Andrea McKenna July 15, 2026
Leo Carrillo’s A Salute to Borrego Valley A Salute to Borrego Valley is a small 1960 booklet written by actor Leo Carrillo, best known as Pancho on The Cisco Kid. Carrillo was a longtime supporter of Borrego Springs, an honorary mayor and a familiar presence at local events. He also served as master of ceremonies at the 1949 dedication of the Borrego Springs Airport. The booklet notes that Carrillo wrote the verse years earlier while sharing a $1-a-day room with Will Rogers at the Summerset Hotel in New York City. In the poem, Carrillo contrasts crowded city life with the peace of Borrego Valley, celebrating its sagebrush, desert sand, open skies, mountains and wildlife.
Show More

Share This Post