Community-wide initiative will spotlight health care access, elevate local voices, and create accountability from 2026 local, regional, and state candidates
DAP Health announced its official endorsement of Seven Days in June: Health is Primary, a national, nonpartisan campaign focused on elevating health care as a central issue in the 2026 election cycle. As part of this commitment, DAP Health is partnering with NBC Palm Springs to bring local visibility to the campaign through a series of community-based conversations and events across the Coachella Valley.
The Seven Days in June campaign, taking place June 1–7, 2026, is a grassroots effort to ensure that candidates for public office clearly articulate their plans to protect and strengthen health care systems, including access to care and public health infrastructure.
“Health is not political, it’s personal, it’s local, and it impacts every single person in our community,” said David Brinkman, CEO of DAP Health. “DAP Health is proud to stand with organizations across the country to ensure that health care remains a top priority for those seeking to lead. Through this campaign, we will amplify the voices of our patients and communities and make clear what’s at stake.”
Local Activation
DAP Health will host a series of “Seven Days in June” micro-events at local coffee shops in Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Springs, and Coachella. These local gatherings will create space for residents to share their lived experiences, challenges, and hopes related to healthcare access.
Key Events During Seven Days in June
June 1 | Coffee Conversation: HIV Prevention & Care
Join DAP Health for a complimentary coffee conversation at 4:00 p.m. at Starbucks, 1751 N. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs. The discussion will feature Andy Glorioso, PrEP Navigation Manager, and Dr. Christina Vu, Physician specializing in Primary Care and Infectious Disease, sharing information about HIV prevention, treatment, and access to care.
June 2 | Coffee Conversation: LGBTQ+ Affirming Care
Join DAP Health for a complimentary coffee conversation at 4:00 p.m. at Koffi located at 67260 Ramond Road in Cathedral City. Featured speakers include Dr. Jason Halperin, MD, MPH, Director of Specialty Services, and Mita Beach, Director of Gender Health & Wellness, discussing the importance of affirming and inclusive health care.
June 3 | Coffee Conversation: Transportation Challenges & Access to Care
Join DAP Health for a complimentary coffee conversation with Corina Velasquez, Chief Operating Officer, and Nedy Terrazas, Associate Chief Operating Officer, as they discuss transportation barriers and improving access to health care services. Time and location to be announced.
June 4 | Coffee Conversation: Urgent Care Access
Join DAP Health for a complimentary coffee conversation at 12:00 pm at Starbucks, 14007 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs. Speakers will include Dr. Silas Gyimah and Dr. Damoun Rezai, Director of Adult Medicine, discussing urgent care services and expanding access to timely medical care.
June 5 | Community Town Hall & Candidate Accountability Forum
Join DAP Health for a complimentary lunch and community panel discussion moderated by Thalia Hayden, NBC Palm Springs at the Cathedral City Senior Center. Local health care leaders and service providers will discuss access to care and answer community questions. During the event, DAP Health will also release candidate health care scorecards, based on questionnaires distributed to local and state candidates, providing transparency on where candidates stand on key health care issues.
Panelists Include:
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Brittany Cabanas, Executive Director, Stonewall Gardens; Board Member, Triangle Care Management
Brittany Cabanas is a Palm Springs native, Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA), and RCFE Administrator dedicated to advancing compassionate senior care. Beginning her career as a caregiver at age 17, she has grown into a respected leader in senior living and health care administration. Brittany holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, is currently pursuing her master’s degree, and actively supports nonprofit organizations serving seniors and families throughout the Coachella Valley. -
Kevin Simsay, Senior Manager of Programs, The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert
Kevin Simsay serves as Senior Manager of Programs for The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, where he leads initiatives focused on community connection, wellness, and support services for LGBTQ+ individuals across the Coachella Valley. He is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces and impactful programming that uplifts and empowers the community. -
Alejandro Espinoza, Chief of Community Engagement, Desert Healthcare District
Alejandro Espinoza is the Chief of Community Engagement for the Desert Healthcare District, where he works to strengthen partnerships and advance health equity throughout the Coachella Valley. His work focuses on building meaningful community relationships and expanding access to healthcare resources and education for underserved populations. -
Corina Velasquez, Chief Operating Officer, DAP Health
Corina Velasquez is a health care leader with extensive experience in operations, organizational leadership, and patient-centered care. As Chief Operating Officer, she oversees strategic and operational initiatives that support accessible, high-quality healthcare services while fostering innovation, collaboration, and community impact. -
Maria Hernandez, Public Health, Riverside University Health System (RUHS)
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Building a Healthier Future
The campaign comes at a critical moment, as potential cuts to Medicaid, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) threaten access to care, public health preparedness, and medical innovation nationwide.
DAP Health hopes to:
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Educate the community about access points to health care locally
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Provide platforms for community engagement and listening
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Strengthen community advocacy leading into the 2026 elections
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“Health care is foundational to strong communities, economic stability, and human dignity,” Brinkman added. “We invite our partners, patients, and neighbors to join us in making sure health remains a core governing responsibility.”
Get Involved
Community members are encouraged to participate in events throughout the week and learn more about how health care policies impact their lives.
For more information, visit Seven Days in June – DAP Health
About Seven Days in June: Health is Primary
Seven Days in June: Health is Primary is a decentralized, nonpartisan, grassroots-driven campaign designed to elevate health care as a defining issue in the 2026 election cycle.
Throughout the week, thousands of local organizations and activists will call on candidates for federal and local office to clearly articulate how they will:
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Improve affordability and access to care and treatment
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Sustain and strengthen biomedical research
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Protect and modernize domestic and global public health infrastructure
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Ensure stability for seniors, veterans, rural communities, people with disabilities, working families, and others who rely on accessible, affordable healthcare
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Communities nationwide will host town halls, panel discussions, candidate forums, demonstrations, rallies, vigils, interfaith services, and digital campaigns, creating opportunities for education, engagement, and accountability.
This moment is critical. Chronic diseases continue to rise and account for the majority of U.S. health spending, while preventable conditions are too often diagnosed too late. Public health systems are under strain, vaccination rates have declined, and disease outbreaks are re-emerging. At the same time, reductions in biomedical research funding threaten innovation, and safety-net providers face mounting financial pressure.
Seven Days in June brings together a broad coalition of partners, including health care providers, public health professionals, researchers, civil rights leaders, faith communities, labor organizations, and business leaders. Together, they are working to establish a shared civic expectation: that health must be treated as a core governing responsibility.
Health is not ideological.
Health is primary.
About DAP Health
Since 1984, DAP Health has remained committed to protecting and expanding health care access. Guided by the voices and needs of the diverse communities it serves, the nonprofit’s nearly 1,000 team members provide medical, dental, and behavioral health care — plus social services and more — to almost 80,000 people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, orientations, and socioeconomic statuses at 23 fixed locations and six mobile units from the Coachella Valley to the San Diego coast.
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