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Monterey County Behavioral Health leads Pink Shirt Day activities and kindness campaign; main event Friday at Northridge Mall

County of Monterey · February 25, 2026

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Summary

Casey Rodenbush of Monterey County Behavioral Health said Pink Shirt Day activities culminate Friday, 4–7 p.m. at the Northridge Mall in Salinas with 35+ organizations tabling, student performances, an anti‑bullying short film and giveaways; the department also highlighted its Rainbow Connections kindness campaign.

Casey Rodenbush, services manager for Monterey County Behavioral Health, outlined countywide Pink Shirt Day events and a related digital campaign focused on kindness and youth mental health.

Rodenbush traced Pink Shirt Day to a 2007 anti‑bullying action in Nova Scotia and said the county effort brings together school districts, nonprofits and county agencies. She said the main community event will take place at Northridge Mall in Salinas on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., with student performances, an animated short film about cyberbullying by Ryan Knight, more than 35 organizations tabling, free T‑shirts, giveaways and family activities.

The briefing highlighted partners including Harmony at Home, Alisal Union School District, Santa Rita Union School District, Artists Inc., and other local organizations. Rodenbush also noted appearances and programming by local performers, including a youth saxophonist featured in the briefing, and said the event will include an art installation created by students titled "Hearts in Hand."

Rodenbush described Rainbow Connections, a Behavioral Health digital campaign, as a month‑by‑month series of skills and practices for youth; the department is focusing on kindness this month and plans to continue the campaign through the current fiscal year and into fiscal 2026–27. She emphasized peer support and school‑based "everyone belongs" clubs as strategies to build connectedness and positive mental health for youth.

Pascoli invited the public to attend the mall event and to follow county social accounts for more information.