On October 30, 2025, the 5th Annual Cultural Competency Advisory Committee Summit buzzed with clinicians, LGBTQ+ Alliance members, doulas, counseling teams, Native American tribal members, students, and community partners. Hosted by San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, the Summit theme, “Bridges of Belonging: Healing Through Generations,” wasn’t just a slogan, it set the tone for the day.
Foster Family Agency A Greater Hope (AGH) was in the center of it. Led by Andrea Chiogor, Program Manager, and Barbara Pitts, Director of Prevention & Community Services, our team connected event attendees to our programs to meet their needs. AGH hosted a packed breakout session featuring AWBW’s “I Am” Mandalas Art Transformation Workshop. Fifty-eight participants (plus a dozen onlookers) filled the room with color, conversation, and quiet courage. AGH Behavioral Health Specialist, Halie Barrios, was also in attendance, assisting participants as they created works of art.
“Mandalas” means “circle” in Sanskrit. They signify wholeness, balance, connection across cultures. In this workshop, each person created an “I Am” mandala layered with affirmations like, “I am resilient. I am worthy. I am enough.” As colors and patterns emerged, so did stories of heritage and home, struggle and strength, grief and growth.
The safety the circle of participants created made the workshop extraordinary. No pressure, no “right way,” just an invitation to show up honestly. For many, the art offered language where words fall short across cultural norms, trauma histories, or language barriers. “In a room full of people from different backgrounds there was no judgment, only honor for the communities represented,” Chiogor shared.
Vendors from across the county aligned resources and goals, and an intergenerational panel underscored that cultural competence isn’t a checkbox, it’s a relationship, practiced over time. AGH is proud to be part of that practice: partnering with county leaders, colleges, coalitions, and care teams to embed cultural humility in everyday services.
“I had the pleasure of attending. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow vendors, share resources, and celebrate diverse cultures through music and traditions,” Pitts commented. Through PEI outreach, Enhanced Care Management coordination, and restorative arts like AWBW’s “I Am” Mandalas, we’re building spaces where people feel seen, safe, and celebrated. “It was amazing to see everyone so engaged, open, and eager to share their stories,” added Pitts joyfully.
